Ex-CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch arrested in South Florida on sex-trafficking charges

Michael Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co, appeared Tuesday in West Palm Beach federal court after his arrest on sex-trafficking and interstate prostitution charges, stemming from allegations during his tenure as the top officer of the edgy fashion retailer.

Jeffries, 80, who headed the popular clothing brand from 1992 to 2014, was arrested Tuesday in West Palm Beach along with his partner, Matthew Smith, and an associate, James Jacobson, of Wisconsin, who face the same charges, according to prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York. All three defendants will be arraigned there on a 16-count indictment.

Jeffries and the other two men are accused of operating a sex-trafficking network at the former executive’s New York residences and hotels in England, France, Italy, Morocco and the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy from 2008 to 2015. The indictment alleges Jeffries and Smith of paying dozens of men, mostly male models, to meet them in these locations for “Sex Events,” listing 15 “John Does” as victims.

“During this period, Jeffries and Smith relied on their vast financial resources, Jeffries’ power as the CEO of Abercrombie, and numerous people, including Jacobson and a network of employees, contractors and security professionals, to run a business that was dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires and ensuring that their international sex trafficking and prostitution business was kept secret, thereby maintaining Jeffries’ powerful reputation,” the indictment says.

Federal prosecutors joined FBI officials at a news conference in New York on Tuesday to announce the take-down of Jeffries and the other two defendants.

“As alleged in the indictment, former CEO of Abercrombie Michael Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and their recruiter James Jacobson used their money and influence to prey on vulnerable men for their own sexual gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s arrests show that my Office and our law enforcement partners will not rest until anyone who engages in sex trafficking or interstate prostitution, regardless of their wealth or power, is brought to justice.”

Miami defense attorney Brian Bieber, who is representing Jeffries, issued a statement after his arrest by FBI agents in South Florida: “We will respond in detail to the allegations after the Indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse — not the media.”

BBC News investigation

The filing of the federal indictment follows a BBC News report published last year that said Jeffries exploited men at sex parties he hosted with his partner, Smith. The report said 12 men described attending or organizing events that included sex acts for Jeffries and Smith, and that the events took place from 2009 to 2015. Some of the men who spoke to BBC said they were exploited or didn’t participate willingly.

Shortly after the BBC report, Abercrombie & Fitch and Jeffries were sued for allegedly turning a blind eye to Jeffries’ alleged misconduct. That civil suit alleged he sexually abused numerous men after luring them with the promise of coveted modeling contracts, CNBC reported.

“Today’s arrests are monumental for the aspiring male models who were victimized by these individuals,” attorney Brittany Henderson, who is representing victims from that class-action lawsuit, said in a statement Tuesday.

“Their fight for justice does not end here,” the statement said. “We look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.”

Information from NBC News was used to supplement this report.