Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO and alleged serial sexual predator Mike Jeffries has been arrested on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The 80-year-old, who ran the clothing retailer from 1992 to 2014, was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida.
His romantic partner, Matthew Smith, 61, as well as a business associate – and alleged middleman – James Jacobson, 71, were also arrested in connection with the sex trafficking charges, authorities told The Post.
The arrests come almost a year after the Federal Bureau of Investigation started probing claims that Jeffries allegedly paid for dozens of young male models to travel to New York and around the world to engage in “sex events.”
According to the federal indictment, the ex-CEO orchestrated elaborate sex parties to exploit and sexually abuse “vulnerable men” during his 22-year tenure at the fashion brand.
The indictment also alleges that Jeffries’ associate, James Jacobson, also referred to as Jim Jake, and Mrs. Cook recruited and interviewed the men for these sex parties.
The claims first surfaced part of an explosive 2003 BBC investigation in which 12 men alleged they were lured to events at the ex-CEO’s upscale New York residence or luxury hotels in the world’s fashion capitals between 2009 and 2015.
Then last year, a class-action civil suit was filed in New York alleging that Jeffries had orchestrated the abuse of over 100 men and that the fashion juggernaut had turned a blind eye to the former CEO’s misconduct.
David Bradberry, the lead plaintiff in the case alleged that he felt pressured into having sex with Jeffries at one of his parties in his Hamptons mansion.
Bradberry, then 23, stated that he “didn’t feel safe to say ‘no’” or “I don’t feel comfortable with this” because of Jeffries’ home’s secluded location and the presence of his staff – who were all dressed in a uniform of head-to-toe A&F.
More alleged victims also claimed that they were required to hand over their cell phones, clothing and wallets during the sex events. They were also reportedly forced to sign NDAs and “pressured” to consume alcohol, Viagra, and muscle relaxers.
“Many of the victims, at least one of whom was as young as 19 years old, were financially vulnerable and aspired to be models in the fashion industry,” per a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York.
⚠️ Connect the dots…
Jeffrey Epstein financier Les Wexner purchased Abercrombie & Fitch in 1988…
They passed the torch over to Mike Jeffries as CEO in 1992.
80 year-old Mike Jeffries was just arrested for sex trafficking. pic.twitter.com/dX9f6O3S5U
— HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) October 22, 2024
The suit, filed in October last year, also alleged that Jeffries had modeling scouts scouring the internet for prey and that some aspiring models vying to be the next face of Abercrombie ended up as sex-trafficking victims.
“Jeffries was so important to the profitability of the brand that he was given complete autonomy to perform his role as CEO however he saw fit, including through the use of blatant international sex trafficking and abuse of prospective Abercrombie models,” the suit alleged.
Jeffries, who left A&F in 2014, denied the allegations.
At the time, a company spokesperson for Abercrombie & Fitch said they were “appalled and disgusted by the behavior described in the allegations against Mr. Jeffries,” adding that they had hired an outside law firm to conduct a review.
“The company’s current executive leadership team and board of directors were not aware of the allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Jeffries,” the company statement said.
“For close to a decade, a new executive leadership team and refreshed board of directors have successfully transformed our brands and culture into the values-driven organization we are today. We have zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, or discrimination of any kind.”
“Powerful individuals, for too long, have trafficked and abused for their own pleasure young people with few resources and a dream.”
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and a third person, James Jacobson have been arrested on sex trafficking… pic.twitter.com/sXruz766ba— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 22, 2024
Jeffries and his partner Smith are scheduled to appear in a federal court in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, John Marzulli, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office said in a statement. Jacobson has a court appearance for Tuesday, in federal court in St. Paul Minn.
In a statement Tuesday, lawyers representing the plaintiffs, Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson said, “Our firm represents all of the victims in the class action case we filed on their behalf.”
“All four of the defendants, including Abercrombie and Fitch, have tried everything possible to delay our lawsuit from proceeding, presumably because they knew it would lead to criminal arrests. Despite their efforts, the arrests happened anyway, and we are looking forward to cooperating with law enforcement to make sure that the criminal and civil justice systems are successful in this prosecution.”
