The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, has denied accusations of trafficking male models for his parties. On Friday, October 27, Jeffries pleaded not guilty to these charges in a US District Court in New York. He is currently under house arrest with electronic monitoring, awaiting trial.
Jeffries, who was arrested earlier this week, posted a $10 million bail bond secured by his New York home. He appeared in court alongside his British partner, Matthew Smith, who also faces sex crime charges, and his son and wife. The allegations against Jeffries and Smith stem from an investigation initiated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2023, following a damning BBC exposé titled “The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool.”
The BBC investigation revealed a network of recruiters and a middleman who allegedly procured men for events hosted by Jeffries and Smith at their residences and hotels across the globe. Several men shared their experiences of signing non-disclosure agreements for these events, indicating potential coercion and exploitation.
According to court sources, Jeffries is prohibited from contacting his co-defendants, witnesses, or alleged victims. His next court hearing is scheduled for December 12 before Judge Nusrat Choudhury.
Meanwhile, Smith, who has not yet been arraigned, remains in detention after a federal judge in Florida expressed concerns about his potential flight risk due to his British citizenship.
Prosecutors in the case allege that Jeffries, Smith, and their associate, Jacobson, used a combination of “force, fraud, and coercion” to traffic men in a large-scale prostitution operation between December 2008 and March 2015. Jacobson has also pleaded not guilty to the charges and is under house arrest after posting a $500,000 bond.
Abercrombie & Fitch, the fashion giant that Jeffries once led, has publicly condemned the allegations against him. The company has expressed “appalling and disgust” at the reported abuse and maintains a “zero tolerance” policy against any form of harassment or discrimination.
This case has sent shockwaves through the fashion industry and beyond, raising crucial questions about the darker side of power and privilege. As the legal proceedings unfold, the world watches with bated breath, awaiting the outcome of this high-profile case.
