Mike Jeffries, the former longtime CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of running an international sex trafficking scheme while leading the clothing retailer. Jeffries, 80, who headed Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014, entered his plea to one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of prostitution before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione in Central Islip, New York, in Suffolk County.
Brian Bieber, Jeffries’ lawyer, submitted the plea on his client’s behalf. During his arraignment, Jeffries wore a navy blue blazer and a light gray shirt without a tie, staring straight ahead with his fingers intertwined.
Prosecutors released Jeffries on a $10 million bond, using his Fishers Island, New York home as collateral. However, they subjected him to home confinement with GPS monitoring. James Jacobson, an employee of Jeffries, also pleaded not guilty to the same charges through his lawyer. His bail includes home confinement, GPS monitoring, and a $500,000 bond.
Jeffries’ partner, Matthew Smith, a dual U.S.-British citizen, faces detention and plans to plead to the same 16 charges later. Prosecutors allege that the scheme operated from 2008 to 2015. They claim Jacobson recruited victims, paid men for sex, and selected individuals to travel to Manhattan, the Hamptons, and various countries to engage in sexual acts with Jeffries and Smith.
Prosecutors assert that victims believed their participation could lead to modeling jobs. However, the scheme primarily served to satisfy Jeffries’ and Smith’s sexual desires while protecting Jeffries’ reputation.
The indictment outlines disturbing allegations, including forcing victims to consume alcohol, Viagra, and muscle relaxants; using sex toys; and performing sexual acts against their will. Prosecutors identified dozens of male victims, including 15 specifically mentioned in the indictment. Each defendant faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of sex trafficking and up to 20 years for interstate prostitution.
Jeffries and Jacobson will return to court on December 12. The charges align with accusations from a 2023 BBC investigation and ongoing private litigation on behalf of Jeffries’ accusers. Although Abercrombie has faced lawsuits, it denies any knowledge of Jeffries’ alleged misconduct and does not face charges in this criminal case. Lawyers representing the alleged victims in the civil lawsuit could not be reached for comment following the hearing.
Jeffries built Abercrombie into a popular brand for teen shoppers, leveraging provocative marketing featuring semi-nude models. He resigned amid declining sales and criticism for failing to adapt to changing customer tastes. Since the announcement of the charges, Abercrombie’s shares have dropped 11%. The company expressed its shock and disgust over the accusations against Jeffries and highlighted its transformation into a values-driven organization since his departure.
