Thursday, November 14, 2024

Abercrombie & Fitch Ex-CEO Arrested On Ghastly Charges Involving Men

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By Brian Myers
| Published

 The long-time CEO of clothing giant Abercrombie & Fitch has been arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking men. Mike Jeffries, who served as the company’s leader from 1992 until 2014, was charged along with his life partner Matthew Smith and an alleged middleman named James Jacobson following a lengthy investigation.

Much of the details surrounding the criminal allegations against Jeffries are still under the wraps of a sealed indictment, but an upcoming press conference with the FBI and the federal prosecutor’s office is expected to shed more light on the charges.

Mike Jeffries held the CEO position at Abercrombie & Fitch until 2014 when he stepped down amid a period of sales declines.

What is known is that the FBI began an investigation into Mike Jeffries last year for funding what has been described as a sex trafficking operation that spanned two decades. The federal agency’s activities were reported by the BBC, which conducted its own investigation into the criminal and civil complaints. The media outlet was able to interview 12 men who “described attending or organizing events involving sex acts run for Mr. Jeffries between 2009 and 2015.”

The inside of a Abercrombie & Fitch store

Eight of the men interviewed by the BBC stated that they were recruited to attend the functions by James Jacobson. Some of the men stated that they knew that these meetings would be sexual in nature, but felt misled. Others claimed to not know that there would be any sex acts involved at all. The allegations from one man, David Bradberry, may give some insight as to the motive behind the meetings between various men and Mike Jeffries.

Bradberry, who was 23 at the time of his meeting with Jacobson, maintains that he was told that he would need to perform oral sex on the middleman if the aspiring model wished to meet then-CEO Mike Jeffries. Bradberry went on to state that afterwards, he went to Jeffries’ Long Island, New York mansion to meet him for sex.

The criminal complaints against the embattled former CEO are the latest in a series of controversies that include a litany of civil cases filed against him.

The federal investigation has included not only statements from alleged victims, but also an unknown number of former household staff that were employed by Mike Jeffries.

Mike Jeffries’ attorneys have denied any wrongdoing by any party and are committed to responding to all allegations after the details of the indictment are available. But, they added, these responses will take place in a court of law and not in media interviews.

In the United States, a federal sex trafficking violation occurs when a party arranges for an adult to cross state lines or into another country to have sex for money if it’s determined that a level of coercion, force, or fraud is involved.

The criminal complaints against the embattled former CEO are the latest in a series of controversies that include a litany of civil cases filed against him. Mike Jeffries did win one court battle, however, against the company he once represented. A U.S. court ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch must pay for Jeffries’ civil defense, as the suits against him were tied to his position as CEO.

Mike Jeffries’ attorneys have denied any wrongdoing by any party and are committed to responding to all allegations after the details of the indictment are available.

Mike Jeffries held the CEO position at Abercrombie & Fitch until 2014 when he stepped down amid a period of sales declines. His golden parachute included a retirement package worth an estimated $25 million.

But despite his high net worth and powerful position at one of the world’s most recognized clothing lines, his reputation at the company’s helm was tarnished years ago amid allegations of discriminatory practices against his staff, his extravagant spending habits, and how his romantic partner Matthew Smith seemed to be guiding Jeffries’ decisions.

Sources: BBC


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