<img srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/ws/240/cpsprodpb/9f0c/live/d10a7f40-90d3-11ef-8e6d-e3e64e16c628.jpg.webp 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/ws/320/cpsprodpb/9f0c/live/d10a7f40-90d3-11ef-8e6d-e3e64e16c628.jpg.webp 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/ws/480/cpsprodpb/9f0c/live/d10a7f40-90d3-11ef-8e6d-e3e64e16c628.jpg.webp 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/ws/624/cpsprodpb/9f0c/live/d10a7f40-90d3-11ef-8e6d-e3e64e16c628.jpg.webp 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/ws/800/cpsprodpb/9f0c/live/d10a7f40-90d3-11ef-8e6d-e3e64e16c628.jpg.webp 800w" sizes="(min-width: 1008px) 760px, 100vw" alt="Abercrombie & Fitch sign and photo of former CEO Mike Jeffries” width=”1024″ height=”576″ src=”https://www.bbc.com/japanese/articles/aspect-ratio:1024 / 576″ class=”bbc-139onq”/>
October 23, 2024 10:50
Lianna Croxford Investigative Editor, Madeline Halpert, Brandon Drennon (BBC News)
On the 22nd, US authorities accused the former CEO of US apparel giant Abercrombie & Fitch and his British partners of running a prostitution brokerage and international sex trafficking business. He was arrested and charged. Last year, a BBC investigation team reported that the pair were allegedly exploiting men by holding sex events around the world.
Those indicted include former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, 80, his partner Matthew Smith, 61, and James Jacobson, who is said to have been the intermediary between the two. 71). Federal prosecutors say the three used force, fraud and coercion to engage in “violent and exploitative” sexual acts.
Jeffries and his partner have previously denied any wrongdoing through their lawyers. Jeffreys’ lawyer told the BBC on the 22nd: “Once the indictment is released, we will respond in detail to its contents.”
The BBC has also contacted Smith’s lawyer for comment. Abercrombie & Fitch declined to comment.
Warning: This article contains depictions of sexual acts
Brion Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said Jeffries used his wealth, power and position as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch to engage in “sexual pleasure” for himself and his partner Smith. He was trafficking men.”
Prosecutor Peace said the couple hired Jacobson as a scout and conducted “tryouts” with men around the world, forcing them to perform sexual acts in exchange for money.
Once Jeffreys approved the men, they were taken to Jeffries’ home in New York, where they were “forced to consume alcohol, Viagra and muscle relaxants,” Peace said.
The prosecutor went on to say that Jeffries and Smith “injected erection-inducing substances, either at the direction of someone else or on their own initiative,” to men who said they were unable or unwilling to participate in the acts. Claim.
It said Jeffries “spent millions of dollars on extensive infrastructure to support this enterprise and maintain its confidentiality.” This includes international travel, hotel stays, paid staff and event security.
Prosecutor Peace claimed that although the indictment lists 15 victims, “more than a dozen men were involved” in the scheme.
Image provided by EPA
image captionBrion Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
Jeffries was released on $10 million bail after appearing in court on the 22nd. Jacobson was also released on $500,000 bail. The two are scheduled to appear in court again on the 25th.
Meanwhile, defendant Smith was taken into custody.
A BBC investigation revealed a highly organized operation involving networks and intermediaries who recruited men to these events.
Prosecutor Peace acknowledged at a press conference on Wednesday that authorities initially received the information from media reports.
Following the BBC report, a civil lawsuit was also filed in New York against Jeffries and Smith, accusing them of sex trafficking, rape and sexual assault.
The lawsuit also accuses Abercrombie & Fitch of funding a sex trafficking operation led by Jeffries over a 20-year period when Jeffries ran the company.
Brad Edwards, an attorney representing the alleged victims, said in a statement on Tuesday: “These arrests stem from a long-running human trafficking scheme that operated under the legal cover provided by Abercrombie.” “This is a major step towards justice for the many victims of exploitation and abuse.”
He added: “The BBC’s reporting is unprecedented and, combined with the legal action lodged by our law firm detailing this crime, has led to this landmark arrest. This is an excellent investigation. This is the result of reporting.”
The BBC spoke to 12 men in its initial investigation. Between 2009 and 2015, these individuals attended or helped organize events involving sexual acts hosted by Jeffries and Smith.
Eight of the people who said they attended the event said they were hired by intermediaries. The BBC identified the intermediary as Jacobson.
In September of this year, several more men spoke out about their experiences. Some claimed Jeffries’ secretaries injected them with what they were told was liquid Viagra.
Jacobson previously said in a statement to the BBC through his lawyer that any suggestion that there was “any coercive, fraudulent or coercive conduct on his part” was insulting. “I had no idea that anyone had done anything like that,” he said.
testimony of damage
The BBC also interviewed more than a dozen people involved with Jeffreys, including former staff members.
Some of the men the BBC spoke to claimed they had been deceived about the nature of the event when they were hired, or that they had not been told it would involve sex. Others said they understood it was a sexual event, but didn’t know exactly what was expected of them. Everyone was getting paid.
There was also testimony that agents and other recruiters had hinted at the possibility of becoming a model at Abercrombie & Fitch.
David Bradbury, who was 23 at the time of the attack, said he was “clearly told” by Jacobson, the intermediary, that he would not let him meet Abercrombie & Fitch or Jeffries unless he performed oral sex on him. told the BBC.
“It was like he was selling his fame, and the payment to get it was following,” she said.
Bradbury was then invited to a party at Jeffries’ then-home in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York, where he met Jeffries and had sex with him. Because the party was held in a “hidden” location and supervised by Jefferies’ personal staff in Abercrombie & Fitch uniforms, “it felt safe to say ‘no’ or ‘I don’t feel comfortable.’ There wasn’t,” he said.
Abercrombie’s reaction
After the BBC’s initial investigative reporting, Abercrombie & Fitch announced it would launch its own investigation into the allegations. However, when the BBC earlier asked when the investigation would be completed and whether its findings would be made public, the company declined to respond.
Like Jeffries and Smith, Abercrombie & Fitch claims it had no knowledge of the “human trafficking business” that Jeffries allegedly led. They are seeking dismissal of the civil suit.
A U.S. court earlier ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch must pay for Jeffries’ defense costs as he continues to fight civil lawsuits related to human trafficking and rape charges. Jeffries has filed a lawsuit against the company seeking legal fees, and a judge has ruled that the allegations against him are related to his position.
Abercrombie & Fitch said it does not comment on legal matters. However, in a statement submitted to the court, the current management team said they were “not aware of the allegations” until contacted by the BBC and said they “hate sexual abuse” by Jeffreys and others and “have no knowledge of the allegations”. We condemn the actions of the people,” he added.
Jeffries resigned as CEO in 2014 due to declining sales. The severance package was worth about $25 million, according to filings at the time.
He was once America’s highest-paid CEO, but he was also a controversial figure. There were a number of complaints about discrimination against staff, lavish spending, and the unofficial influence that Smith, his life partner, had at the company.
