Arrest of Former Executives of Abercrombie & Fitch on Charges of Sex Trafficking

U.S. prosecutors announced on Tuesday that a former executive of the massive American clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch has been arrested and charged with trafficking male models for sex parties around the world. This news was disclosed at a press conference on October 23 by the Eastern District of New York prosecutors. Abercrombie & Fitch has a history of over 130 years. Under the management of Jeffries, it became a global brand for youth fashion over two decades and is often recognized for its aggressive and provocative marketing strategies. According to the prosecutor's report, Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, used their financial resources and influence to organize sex parties and exploited men to satisfy their sexual desires and those of others. In this context, James Jacobson is also accused of recruiting, interviewing, and hiring men for these purposes. The federal indictment claims that the defendants were involved in these illegal activities from December 2008 to March 2015. Victims, some of whom were lured by job promises and modeling opportunities, were forced to consume drugs and participate in sexual acts. Mike Jeffries, who served as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 until December 2014, was arrested along with his accomplices on November 2 and transferred to court. Jeffries has been released on a $10 million bail, and Jacobson on a $500,000 bail, while Smith has been transferred to temporary custody. This case, the dimensions and details of which are still under investigation, has sparked widespread reactions in American society and media. The prosecution has stated that these types of crimes, which are committed under the guise of job opportunities, constitute the sexual exploitation of vulnerable individuals. According to the indictment, the defendants intentionally hired heterosexual men, and in more than one instance, Jeffries and Smith either personally or by instructing others injected drugs into the victimized men to force them to engage in sexual acts that they were physically unable to perform or had no desire to do without the drugs. Prosecutors say many of these men were aspiring models who believed that participating in these parties would help their career prospects. The indictment also states that victims were told that non-compliance with certain requests for specific acts would harm their career futures. Victims were also required to sign non-disclosure agreements to prevent them from sharing any information about these sexual events with others, including family and friends. Jeffries came under intense scrutiny in 2023 after a BBC World Service investigation revealed that he and his partner Matthew Smith used an intermediary to recruit and exploit young men. Following this, dozens of men have filed complaints against Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch over the past year, claiming that the former CEO abused his position to exploit and harass men.