BROOKLYN, NY. (THECOUNT) — Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, along with his partner Matt Smith and a third man, Jim Jacobson, were arrested Tuesday in connection with a criminal sex trafficking investigation led by the FBI and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn. Sources familiar with the investigation confirmed, marking a significant escalation in a probe into allegations of sexual exploitation involving young men at parties hosted by the three men.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for several years, focuses on whether Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson exploited and abused young men at high-profile parties in the United States and around the world. Federal prosecutors first acknowledged the investigation in January 2023 after several alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit detailing their experiences.
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Allegations of Abuse and Exploitation
Jeffries, who is credited with transforming Abercrombie & Fitch from a traditional outfitter into a global teen fashion brand, faces allegations that he and his partner, Smith, used their positions of power to recruit young men under false pretenses. According to the lawsuit, these men were often lured by promises of modeling opportunities and then coerced into drug use and sexual acts at lavish parties held at Jeffries’ estate in the Hamptons, as well as at other locations in London, Venice, and other international destinations.
The civil lawsuit, filed by several men who claim to be victims, accuses Jeffries and his associates of running what was effectively a sex trafficking ring. One plaintiff, David Bradberry, a former crewman on the reality television series Below Deck, described Jeffries’ role in the alleged exploitation. He said that Jeffries “made Abercrombie successful by the oversexualization of young men.”
Bradberry’s lawsuit also accuses Jeffries, Smith, Jacobson, and Abercrombie & Fitch itself of systematically targeting attractive young men, manipulating them with promises of careers as Abercrombie models. These men, the lawsuit claims, were then subjected to drug use and forced to engage in sexual activities during the events hosted by Jeffries and his associates.
The Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The FBI investigation, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, is looking into the specific details of the parties and the alleged abuse. The scope of the investigation has expanded over the last year, with federal authorities building their case based on evidence provided by the alleged victims and additional sources. In January, prosecutors formally acknowledged the investigation in court filings tied to the ongoing civil lawsuit.
One of the primary allegations from the civil case, which was filed by attorney Brad Edwards of Edwards Henderson, centers on the assertion that the Abercrombie & Fitch brand was closely tied to the alleged trafficking operation. Edwards told ABC News in a statement: “As we laid out in our lawsuit, this was an Abercrombie-run sex trafficking organization that permeated throughout the company and allowed the three individuals arrested today to victimize dozens and dozens of young, aspiring male models.”
The lawsuit seeks to hold Abercrombie & Fitch, Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson accountable for their alleged actions. Edwards emphasized that the alleged victims were young men who had been deceived into thinking they were being given a legitimate opportunity to work as models for the fashion brand, only to find themselves exploited.
Legal Defense and Next Steps
Despite the gravity of the charges, Jeffries’ legal team has pushed back against the accusations. Brian Bieber, an attorney representing Jeffries, responded to the arrest in a statement to ABC News: “We will respond in detail to the allegations after the Indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse – not the media.”
The case is expected to unfold in federal court in the coming months as prosecutors continue to build their case and seek justice for the victims. For now, the arrests of Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson signal a significant development in a high-profile investigation that could have wide-reaching implications for the former CEO and the brand he once led.
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