CITY OF ISLIP, NY — Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries appeared in a Long Island courtroom Friday to face charges of sex trafficking and prostitution.
He pleaded not guilty.
A judge granted him $10 million bail. Jeffries put up his New York mansion as collateral. His release conditions include house arrest, electronic monitoring and no contact with his co-defendants, witnesses or alleged victims.
Some of his alleged victims were also in court. Jeffries looked back at them.
He is due back in court on December 12.
Jeffries was arrested earlier this weekalong with his romantic partner Matthew Smith and another man, James Jacobson. Jeffries and Jacobson are scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon in Central Islip.
The 16 indictments allege that Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson operated an international sex trafficking and prostitution ring between approximately 2008 and 2015.
Prosecutors say Jeffries and Smith paid dozens of men to travel around the country and the world “for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts.”
“They spent millions of dollars on massive infrastructure to support this operation,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Breon Peace. said earlier this week.
If found guilty, they could face 15 years to life in prison.
Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch arrested
Jeffries is accused of abusing his position as CEO to lure young men into sex by suggesting they could become models for the fashion company. Abercrombie posted a statement on social media after the arrests, saying it is “shocked and disgusted” by the allegations.
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 about the sexual activity that would be required at various events.
Staff allegedly provided participants at these events with non-disclosure agreements and took their phones to maintain secrecy, then provided them with alcohol, muscle relaxants known as “poppers,” Viagra, lubricant and condoms, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors further said that the victims did not or could not give consent on several occasions, and that Jeffries and Smith “violated the physical integrity of these men by subjecting, or continuing to subject them, to invasive sexual and violent contact with body parts and other objects .”
Matthew Smith and James Jacobson
Jefferies and his partner Smith were arrested Tuesday at Jeffries’ home in Palm Beach, Florida. Jacobson was taken into custody in Barron County, Wisconsin.
Prosecutors say Jacobson acted as a recruiter and had “tryouts” with potential candidates, which “typically required the candidates to first engage in commercial sex acts with him.”
Jacobson also appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea. He was released on a $500,000 bond. Smith was ordered arrested after prosecutors raised concerns about his dual US-British citizenship.
The FBI is asking other victims to come forward
The indictment names fifteen victims, but prosecutors say it involves “dozens and dozens of men.”
Former model Barrett Pall says he auditioned to become a model for Jacobson and was flown to Jeffries’ home in New York.
“I thought I was getting clothes from Abercrombie to participate in an interview with Abercrombie, and it wasn’t the interview I expected. And it was the darkest experience of my life,” he said.
Pall added, “I didn’t feel free. I didn’t feel like I could say no or just walk away. I felt like I was trapped.”
The FBI is asking anyone who believes they are a victim or has information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
