Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, Mike Jeffries, don dey face serious allegations after him and two others dey arrested on Tuesday for sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges. Jeffries, wey be de CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014, and his partner, Matthew Smith, plus another man, James Jacobson, dey accused of operating international sex trafficking and prostitution business.
According to de indictment, Jeffries and Smith use their financial resources and Jeffries’ power as CEO to recruit young men for parties in de U.S. and abroad. Dey allegedly pay dozens of men to travel around de world to engage in sex acts. De indictment mention 15 alleged victims, identified as John Does #1-15.
Jacobson, who dey travel throughout de United States and internationally, dey recruit and interview men for de so-called sex events. During “tryouts” of potential candidates, Jacobson require dat de candidates first engage in sex acts with him, according to prosecutors.
Many of de men were coerced, led to believe dat attending de events would yield modeling opportunities with Abercrombie or otherwise benefit their careers. Alternatively, dem tell dem dat not complying with requests for certain acts during de sex events could harm their careers.
Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson dey expected to make appearances in de jurisdictions where dem arrest dem in Florida and Wisconsin before dem transfer dem to Central Islip in Long Island, New York, for arraignment.
Abercrombie & Fitch decline to comment on de arrest. Jeffries’ attorney, Brian Bieber, say dem go respond in detail to de allegations after de indictment is unsealed.
