NEW YORK — Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was arrested Tuesday on charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The indictment contains more than a dozen counts, including allegations of sex trafficking between December 2008 and March 2015.
Jeffries allegedly abused his position as CEO of the company to lure young men into sex by suggesting they could become models for the fashion company, prosecutors said.
Jeffries and two co-defendants, Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, were arrested Tuesday morning. Smith and Jeffries were in a relationship.
“For too long, powerful individuals have trafficked and abused young people for their own sexual pleasure who had few resources and a dream – a dream of securing a successful career in fashion or entertainment,” said Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. . “For anyone who thinks they can exploit and coerce others by using the so-called ‘casting couch’ system, this case should serve as a warning. Prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison.”
The investigation involved the FBI and the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit.
“What is alleged in the indictment is not only deeply disturbing, dishonorable and disgraceful, it is also criminal,” said FBI Assistant Director James Dennehy.
Details of the indictment
The 16 indictments allege that between “approximately 2008 and 2015… the defendants operated an international sex trafficking and prostitution business.” Prosecutors allege Jeffries and Smith “paid dozens of men” to travel both domestically and internationally “for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts.”
Jacobson allegedly acted as a recruiter and had “tryouts” with potential candidates, which “generally required that the candidates first engage in commercial sexual acts with him.”
Prosecutors allege Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson “used force, fraud and coercion to traffic those men for their own sexual gratification.” They say the victims were not informed of the sexual activity that would be required of them during various “sex events.”
The staff at the “sex events” provided attendees with non-disclosure agreements to sign and took their phones to maintain secrecy, then plied them with “alcohol, muscle relaxants known as ‘poppers,'” lube, Viagra, and condoms, among other things. goods,” the complaint states.
Prosecutors allege that on several occasions, when the victims did not or could not consent, Jeffries and Smith violated the bodily integrity of these men by subjecting or continuing to subject them to invasive sexual and violent contact with body parts and other objects. .”
The alleged sex trafficking and persecution occurred over the years.
“They have spent millions of dollars on massive infrastructure to support this operation,” Peace said.
The indictment names 15 victims, but prosecutors say the victims are actually “dozens and dozens of men.”
“The NYPD encourages all survivors of sexual assault to come forward, regardless of gender, immigration status, race or sexual orientation,” said Carlos Ortiz, deputy chief of the Special Victims Unit.
The FBI is asking anyone who believes they are a victim or has information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Jeffries was scheduled to appear in a courtroom in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday afternoon. Another suspect was scheduled to appear in court in Minnesota on Tuesday after being arrested in Wisconsin.
They are expected to be arraigned later this week or early next week in the Eastern District of New York. If convicted, they face 15 years to life in prison.
Jeffries’ attorney, Brian Bieber, said he would “respond in detail to the allegations after the indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but he intends to do so in the courthouse – not in the media.” Smith’s attorney Joseph Nascimento released a similar statement.
Jeffries was previously named in a sex trafficking class action lawsuit
Jeffries was mentioned earlier in a class action lawsuit accusing him of running a “widespread sex trafficking operation.” That lawsuit alleged that he used his position at the company to prey on young men by suggesting that the company hire them as models.
The lawsuit alleged that Jeffries lured young men to his Hamptons estate for casting interviews. Once there, he allegedly made them sign non-disclosure agreements, undress, use drugs and perform sex acts on himself and Smith. according to the lawsuit.
Jeffries became CEO of the company in 1992 and left in 2014 with a retirement package of more than $25 million, according to the lawsuit. Abercrombie & Fitch said it had no comment on the arrest.
The company has previously said it has hired a law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations.
