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BROOKLYN (CN) — Mike Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of luring young men to events under the guise of landing modeling opportunities and sexually exploiting them.
Jeffries, who led the national clothing retailer from 1992 to 2014, faces charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. According to the 16-count indictment, he coerced young men into traveling within the United States and abroad and forced them to perform sex acts from 2009 to 2015 for his pleasure, including pressuring them to drink alcohol and take erection-inducing injections.
Jeffries, 80, is charged alongside his romantic partner Matthew Smith, and their recruiter James Jacobson. Prosecutors say Smith was also employed by the Jeffries Family Office, which was established to manage Jeffries’ personal income and assets.
“Powerful individuals have — for too long — trafficked and abused, for their own sexual pleasure, young people with few resources and a dream,” Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said at a news conference Tuesday. “A dream of securing a successful career in fashion or entertainment.”
Peace also blasted the “casting couch” strategy within the entertainment industry, describing the practice of soliciting sexual favors from a job applicant in exchange for employment.
“Prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison,” Peace said.
According to the indictment, Jeffries and his associates flew the aspiring models to the Hamptons or New York City, as well as to hotels in England, France, Italy, Morocco and Saint Barthélémy for “tryouts” of potential candidates.
While the indictment identifies 15 men who were targeted in the recruitment scheme, Peace said “dozens and dozens” of men were targeted and the investigation is still ongoing.
Prosecutors say Jacobson travelled throughout the United States to recruit young men for these sex events, where they were required to drink alcohol and take muscle relaxants, as well as wear costumes and use sex toys for particular sex acts.
According to prosecutors, Jeffries and Smith also either personally or directed others to inject men with a prescription-grade erection-inducing substance directly in their penises if the men were incapable or unwilling to perform certain sex acts.
The men were also not told what they would have to do at these sex events, including anal intercourse with large sex toys and high-pressured enemas via a hose inserted in their anuses.
They were also required to sign nondisclosure agreements which prohibited them from telling their family and friends about the sex events and required them to pay an unspecified sum if they did.
“This case is yet another example of individuals using their wealth, power or reputation to manipulate and control others for their own personal interests,” James Dennehy, assistant director-in-charge of the FBI’s New York field office, said Tuesday.
The indictment comes one year after BBC News published an investigation that found Jeffries exploited men at sex parties he hosted. The report describes the experiences of 12 men who said they attended or organized events that included sex acts for Jeffries and Smith from 2009 to 2015.
Shortly after the BBC report, dozens of men filed a class action against Abercrombie & Fitch, claiming the company was complicit in Jeffries’ decadelong sex trafficking scheme.
Jeffries and Smith made their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida, and Jacobson was set to appear in federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota. All three are expected to be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Prosecutors want all three detained pending trial, requesting that Jeffries should only be released on a $10 million bond and Jacobson should only be released on a $500,000 bond. Since Smith is a citizen of the United Kingdom, prosecutors added that he should be detained.
Jeffries is represented by Brian Bieber of Gray Robinson, Smith is represented by Joe Nascimento and Dave Raben of Ross Amsel and Jacobson is represented by Jeremy Schneider of Rothman Schneider.
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