Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries Arrested for Alleged Sex Trafficking Scheme

The arrest of former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and two other men on charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution has sent shockwaves through and beyond the fashion industry. Authorities revealed that the alleged misconduct occurred during Jeffries' tenure at the iconic clothing brand, sparking a scandal of enormous proportions.

Law Enforcement Takes Action

On a recent Tuesday, it was announced that Jeffries, along with his romantic partner Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, were arrested in connection with serious criminal charges. The allegations include coercing men into sex acts and paying for numerous individuals to travel globally for sexual purposes, often under the pretense of providing modeling opportunities for Abercrombie. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued a graphic 16-count indictment, accusing the trio of engaging in non-consensual sexual activities with the victims, some of whom were as young as 19 years old. The indictment claims that the men were trafficked both within the United States and internationally to various countries at a cost exceeding millions of dollars.

The court filing revealed that many of the victims were financially vulnerable and had aspirations to become models in the notoriously cut-throat fashion industry. Some of the recruited individuals had prior experience working at Abercrombie stores or had modeled for the brand, making the deception all the more effective. Jeffries served as the CEO from 1992 to 2014, and under his leadership, Abercrombie became synonymous with a particular image and lifestyle.