Accused of sex trafficking, Mike Jeffries who was the head of Abercrombie & Fitch was arrested in New York

Mike Jeffries used his power, wealth and influence to take advantage of men for his own and his partner’s pleasure.” New York federal prosecutor Breon Peace announced this Tuesday, October 22, that former boss Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, 79, and his partner, Matthew Smith, 60 years old, as well as James Jacobson, 70 years old, were arrested and taken into custody The three men are accused of “sex trafficking and pimping”.

According to the “ New York Post “, Breon Peace specified that the investigation aimed at the former fashion mogul relates to the recruitment, between 2008 and 2015, of young men who wanted to be models for Abercrombie & Fitch, but they were forced to participate in parties where they were drugged, drunk and forced to take Viagra to be sexually abused. “Many times, when the men did not agree or could not to do so, Mr. Jeffries and Smith violated their bodily integrity by subjecting them to harassing and violent sexual contact,” said the prosecutor, specifying that the charges relate to twelve men who suffer.

“To anyone who thinks they can take advantage of others and coerce them using the curtain-dragging system, this case should serve as a warning: prepare to trade on that bed for a bed in a federal prison,” said Breon Peace, a trained attorney.

Reports from BBC News

From his appointment at Abercrombie & Fitch in 1992 until his retirement in 2014, Mike Jeffries has often caused scandal, most notably by proudly admitting that he only talks to people ” beautiful and cool” and by multiplying his fatophobic journeys. In October 2023, the allegations against him became much more serious as eight men claimed to BBC News (which had investigated the former director for 2 years) that they had been forced to attend events when they would be used or abused sexual.

The accused described how they were invited – for a fee and through James Jacobson – to participate in events held by the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch at his luxury hotels and residences in the New York around the world, in London, Paris, Venice and even Marrakech. Nights when they claim they were sexually assaulted or raped.

“Jacobson made it clear to me that if I didn’t let him perform oral sex on me, I wouldn’t have an appointment at Abercrombie & Fitch,” one alleged victim said at the time. While another said: “He wasn’t My choice. I was handled carefully by a group of older men who knew exactly what they were doing because they had done it before.” Then they all signed a confidentiality agreement reduce to silence.

A big event in Marrakech

According to the BBC, the biggest event took place in a five-star hotel in Marrakech in 2011, at a time when Abercrombie was the brand of choice for young Americans, representing a rich and beautiful youth and when he was considered to be a model for the brand. in honor A young boy in his twenties said that he was heard by James Jacobson to come striptease this evening. After seeing him dance, mediator Mike Jeffries allegedly forced him to perform oral sex on him. But the young man, frustrated by economic problems, agreed to send him to Marrakech.

That evening, after performing his famous dance, he allegedly hid in his room. But when he woke up, he found a used condom “inside him”. “Come to think of it, I think there’s a good chance I was drugged and raped. I may never know for sure the answer to what happened.” He said he was too traumatized to test himself for a possible STD after the incident, but found out several years later that he had HIV, which he is of the thought he got a contract in Morocco.

FBI investigation

Charges that were pushed the FBI to open an investigation for “sexual exploitation and abuse of young boys” in January of this year which led to the arrest of these three people and the formal prosecution of Mike Jeffries. Arrested in Florida with his partner, he is expected to appear in court in West Palm Beach this Tuesday, October 22.

“Today’s arrest is very important for the positive male models who suffered these people,” answered Agence France-Presse one of the lawyers who represented some of the civil plaintiffs, the British “Their fight for justice will not stop there. We will hold Abercrombie & Fitch accountable for enabling these terrible actions.”