On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, was arrested on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges. Jeffries, 80, was arrested in West Palm Beach, FL, along with two other partners in crime, Matthew Smith, 61, from West Palm Beach and James Jacobson, 71, of Wisconsin. The three men are accused of operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution business that recruited young men for parties in the US and abroad. Jeffries and Smith made their initial court appearance in Florida but will later be arraigned in NYC. Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson are each charged with one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution in relation to the purported victims. Jeffries was CEO of the trendy clothing company from 1992 until his early retirement in December 2014 but abdicated that role entirely after stepping down as chairman last January.
According to media reports, Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson were accused of sexually exploiting male models in a lawsuit that was filed in 2023 against Abercrombie & Fitch for their alleged complicity in Jeffries' behavior and Jeffries. The indictment, filed in the Eastern District of New York, alleges that Jeffries and Smith had sex with aspiring male models between December 2008 and March 2015 after Jacobson recruited them from "throughout the United States and internationally."Reports show that Jacobson pressured men into performing sex acts on him (as a try-out) before they were allowed to attend the so-called sex events with Smith and Jeffries.
The suit claims they threw "sex events" across England, France, Italy, Morocco, and St. Barts for Jeffries, Smith, and various others in New York. They "used force, fraud, and coercion to recruit the victims for employment in commercial sex acts after they helped recruit, hire, transport, harbor and obtain these men by means of coercive or deceptive methods. The men who attended the events were apparently made to believe they might get gigs, or that it would help their careers in some way, or "that not complying with requests for certain acts during the Sex Events could harm their careers."
The events were attended by men who had to sign non-disclosure agreements and hand in their wallets and cell phones. The trio allegedly also recruited, hired, and paid household staff to "facilitate and oversee the sex parties." Staff members supplied Jeffries, Smith, and the men with alcohol, muscle relaxers, lubricants, Viagra, and condoms. According to the indictment, Jacobson or other staff members sometimes even paid men to engage in sex parties.
Jeffries and Smith paid millions to place the sex trafficking enterprise in service, including paying staff members, funding travel costs, or covering expenses related to maintaining secrecy, stated US Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York at a news conference.
"Powerful individuals have for too long exploited and fuelled their own sexual pleasure with the souls of children who had no power or either license to turn away from a dream that was manufactured by those men involved in powerful industries like fashion & entertainment," wrote Peace. And then he had a warning for anyone who thinks they can abuse or intimidate, using the "so-called casting couch system": 'You should "prepare to exchange that coach for no bed in federal prison" - US Attorney Breon Peace
Prosecutors are requesting a $10 million bond for Jeffries and set the bonds at the next highest level for Jacobson: $500,000; and above that level even more so in terms of detention until trial as Smith is both a UK national considered "the most substantial flight risk." When pushed on whether the sex trafficking enterprise could have been active beyond 2015, Peace said they are still investigating and urge any possible victims or witnesses to come forward.
Horowitz Law represents victims of sexual misconduct in cases involving entertainers, musicians, and other celebrities. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or otherwise subjected to unwanted sexual advances, contact us today at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse nationwide. We can help.