Fashion mogul Mike Jeffries, partner arrested for sex trafficking scheme

Oct 22, 2024

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, and his partner, Matthew Smith, were arrested Tuesday, Oct. 22, on charges of sex trafficking following a yearlong investigation by the FBI and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn. The two men, along with a middleman, Jim Jacobson, are accused of recruiting young men with promises of modeling opportunities, only to exploit them at private parties held in the U.S. and abroad, according to prosecutors.

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The parties, hosted in cities such as New York, London, and Venice, allegedly involved coercion and sexual exploitation.

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The investigation was launched after multiple victims came forward, claiming they were misled and coerced into sexual acts during these events. Jacobson is alleged to have served as a recruiter for Jeffries and Smith, luring men under false pretenses.

Jeffries, known for transforming Abercrombie & Fitch into a global fashion powerhouse, faced accusations in civil lawsuits linking the company’s hyper-sexualized marketing image to his personal exploitation of young men.

Lawyers for Jeffries and Smith have denied any wrongdoing, with a formal response expected once the indictment is unsealed.

This case raises concerns about the abuse of power and influence in the fashion industry and the potential exploitation of aspiring models. Federal prosecutors are expected to release more details in the coming days as the investigation continues.

Tags: FBI, Retail Sales, retailers, sex trafficking

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE FORMER CEO OF ABERCROMBIE & FITCH, MIKE JEFFRIES, AND HIS PARTNER, MATTHEW SMITH, WERE ARRESTED TUESDAY ON SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGES AFTER A YEAR-LONG FBI INVESTIGATION.

PROSECUTORS ALLEGE THAT JEFFRIES AND SMITH, WITH THE HELP OF A MIDDLEMAN, JIM JACOBSON, RECRUITED YOUNG MEN WITH THE PROMISE OF MODELING OPPORTUNITIES, ONLY TO EXPLOIT THEM AT PARTIES HOSTED BY THE PAIR IN THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONALLY

THE INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED AFTER MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS SURFACED, WITH VICTIMS CLAIMING THEY WERE COERCED INTO SEXUAL ACTS AT EVENTS HOSTED BY THE PAIR IN cities like NEW YORK, LONDON, and VENICE. JACOBSON IS ACCUSED OF ACTING AS THE RECRUITER, LURING YOUNG MEN UNDER FALSE PRETENSES.

JEFFRIES, WHO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN TRANSFORMING ABERCROMBIE INTO A GLOBAL FASHION BRAND, from 1992 to 2014, HAS FACED ACCUSATIONS IN CIVIL LAWSUITS TIED TO THESE ALLEGED PARTIES, WITH CLAIMS THAT THE COMPANY’S HYPER-SEXUALIZED IMAGE WAS LINKED TO HIS EXPLOITATION OF YOUNG MEN.

LAWYERS FOR JEFFRIES AND SMITH HAVE DENIED ANY WRONGDOING. BOTH MEN ARE EXPECTED TO RESPOND TO THE CHARGES ONCE THE INDICTMENT IS UNSEALED.

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