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Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, and two of his business associates, were arrested Tuesday as part of a sex trafficking investigation.
Authorities arrested Jeffries and Matthew Smith in West Palm Beach, Florida.
James Jacobson was arrested in Wisconsin.
“They are expected to appear in federal court in Florida and Wisconsin today, and arraigned on a later date in the eastern District of New York,” NBC News reports.
Jeffries was the CEO of the fashion brand from 1992 to 2014.
Breaking: Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, two associates arrested on sex trafficking charges https://t.co/swKDs6UsgI
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) October 22, 2024
From the New York Post:
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn were set to hold a news conference later Tuesday to announce the charges in the sex trafficking and interstate prostitution case – including the “former CEO of a major company.”
The arrests come roughly a year after the FBI started probing claims Jeffries allegedly orchestrated elaborate sex events to exploit and sexually abuse young male models during his 22-year tenure at the brand.
The claims first surfaced as part of an explosive BBC News report last year in which 12 men alleged they were lured to events at Jeffries’ upscale New York residence or luxury hotels in the world’s fashion capitals between 2009 to 2015.
Jeffries, who left Abercrombie in 2014, denied the allegations at the time.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, 80, has been arrested in a shocking s*x-trafficking investigation involving young men.
Jeffries, along with his partner Matt Smith and another man, Jim Jacobson, was taken into custody as the FBI delves into allegations of… pic.twitter.com/m9MuWxNs7V
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) October 22, 2024
Abercrombie & Fitch said the company was “appalled and disgusted” by the allegations described in the BBC report.
Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, business associates arrested in sex trafficking probe https://t.co/nmRqh9INdQ pic.twitter.com/ZLO5hjFrUr
— New York Post (@nypost) October 22, 2024
Per NBC News:
Shortly after that report, Abercrombie & Fitch and Jeffries were sued for allegedly turning a blind eye to Jeffries’ alleged misconduct. That civil suit alleged he sexually abused numerous men after luring them with the promise of coveted modeling contracts, CNBC reported.
“Today’s arrests are monumental for the aspiring male models who were victimized by these individuals,” attorney Brittany Henderson, who is representing victims from that class action lawsuit, said in a statement Tuesday.
“Their fight for justice does not end here,” the statement said. “We look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.”
Federal prosecutors for the Eastern District of New York will conduct the press conference on the charges on Tuesday at noon.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
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