Ex-Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries arrested & charged with sex trafficking young men
Mike Jeffries, who ran the popular clothing company from 1992 to 2014, was arrested on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges, reported NBC News.The 80-year-old was apprehended in West Palm Beach, Florida along with two of his associates, Matt Smith and James Jacobson.Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.All three face 15 counts of interstate prostitution and one count of sex trafficking relating to incidents that occurred between December 2008 to March 2015.According to grand jury indictments, Smith is listed as the former CEO’s romantic partner, while Jacobson allegedly recruited young men “to perform commercial sex acts” for the couple, CNBC noted.A post shared by The Abercrombie&Fitch Fansite (@anf_we_love)A post shared by The Abercrombie&Fitch Fansite (@anf_we_love)During a press conference, U.S.
Attorney Breon Peace laid out the allegations made against Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson in the federal indictment.Jacobson allegedly engaged in “tryouts” where he would pay men to engage in sex with him.
Smith would then approve which of the selected men would get flown around the world to meet with him and Jeffries for the purpose to “attend events to engage in commercial sex.”The indictment alleges Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson “used force, fraud and coercion to traffic those men for their own sexual gratification.” They also allegedly employed a referral system that didn’t inform the men of the “full extent and nature of sexual activity required of the men at these events.” Without having knowledge of what was expected of them, the men were told that attending these events could lead to modeling opportunities with Abercrombie.The defendants also employed a “secret staff” that made sure the men signed NDAs (nondisclosure agreements) and handed over their phones while at the “sex events” to maintain secrecy.
