Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO accused of intercourse trafficking greater than a dozen victims: Prosecutors

International Courant

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and two others had been arrested Tuesday as a part of a felony investigation into the alleged intercourse trafficking of greater than a dozen victims, in response to the FBI and federal prosecutors.

Jeffries, his companion Matt Smith and a 3rd man, Jim Jacobson, are accused of operating a world intercourse trafficking and prostitution enterprise that recruited younger males to social gathering within the U.S. and overseas, in response to a 16-count indictment.

The previous retail government and Smith relied on their huge monetary sources, Jeffries’ energy as Abercrombie’s CEO, and numerous individuals, together with Jacobson and a community of staff, contractors and safety professionals, to run an organization ‘that devoted to assembly their wants’. sexual wishes and guaranteeing that their worldwide intercourse trafficking and prostitution affairs had been saved secret,” the indictment mentioned.

Federal prosecutors mentioned the trio allegedly paid dozens of males to journey the world to carry out intercourse acts over a interval of at the least seven years starting in late 2008. The indictment lists 15 alleged victims, recognized as John Does #1-15 . Jeffries allegedly recruited, employed and paid a slew of home staff to “facilitate and supervise the intercourse occasions.” Prosecutors and the FBI consider there are a lot of extra victims and have requested them to come back ahead.

In keeping with prosecutors, Jacobson traveled all through america and internationally to recruit and interview males for the so-called intercourse occasions. Throughout “tryouts” of potential candidates, Jacobson demanded that the candidates first carry out sexual acts on him, prosecutors mentioned.

The doorway to the Abercrombie & Fitch retailer at Barton Creek Sq. Mall on August 28, 2024 in Austin, Texas.

Brandon Bell/Getty Pictures, FILE

The indictment alleges that lots of the males had been coerced into believing that attending the occasions would land modeling alternatives at Abercrombie or in any other case profit their careers, or, alternatively, that failure to adjust to requests for sure actions in the course of the intercourse occasions might trigger hurt. their profession.

The defendants are charged with intercourse trafficking and interstate prostitution. They’re anticipated to seem within the jurisdictions the place the boys had been arrested in Florida and Wisconsin earlier than being taken to Central Islip in Lengthy Island, New York for arraignment at a later date.

“We are going to reply intimately to the allegations after the indictment is unsealed, and as applicable, however intend to take action within the courthouse – not within the media,” mentioned Brian Bieber, legal professional for Jeffries, and Joe Nascimento, legal professional from Smith. advised ABC Information in an identical statements.

Abercrombie & Fitch and an legal professional for Jacobson declined ABC Information’ requests for remark.

Federal prosecutors had confirmed the investigation in January after alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit a yr in the past.

Jeffries, who was chairman and CEO of the powerhouse teen trend model from 1992 to 2014, has been accused in civil lawsuits of exploiting younger males for intercourse at events he hosted at his Hamptons property in New York, London, Venice and elsewhere along with his companion, Smith.

One of many plaintiffs, David Bradberry, a former crew member of the truth collection “Under Deck,” mentioned Jeffries made Abercrombie profitable by means of “the oversexualization of younger males.”

His lawsuit accused Jeffries, Smith, Jacobson and Abercrombie itself of luring enticing younger males beneath the guise of creating them Abercrombie fashions after which forcing them to make use of medicine and carry out intercourse acts.

The plaintiff’s legal professional, Brad Edwards of Edwards Henderson, advised ABC Information in an announcement: “As we detailed in our lawsuit, this was an Abercrombie-run intercourse trafficking group that permeated the complete firm and allowed the three people arrested at the moment dozens of victims. and dozens of younger, aspiring male fashions.”

“For too lengthy, highly effective people have trafficked and abused for their very own sexual pleasure younger individuals who had few sources and a dream — a dream of a profitable profession in trend or leisure,” U.S. Legal professional Breon Peace mentioned Tuesday.

ABC Information’ Laryssa Demkiw contributed to this report.

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO accused of intercourse trafficking greater than a dozen victims: Prosecutors

World Information,Subsequent Massive Factor in Public Knowledg