Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was arrested in West Palm Beach, along with his longtime partner Matthew Smith and 71-year-old James Jacobson, on sex trafficking charges. The 80-year-old Jeffries is accused of conducting fake job interviews to sexually assault male models and reportedly exploiting his influence at the American lifestyle brand to lure and abuse young talent.
Jacobson got arrested for his alleged involvement in recruiting men for Jeffries and Smith. According to media reports, each of them faces one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution related to 15 unnamed victims.
Everything you need to know about the controversies surrounding Mike Jeffries
Mike Jeffries has faced several controversies throughout his career. In 2023, a media investigation revealed allegations from men who claimed he sexually exploited them at events.
Following this, two former prosecutors called for a sex trafficking investigation based on the findings. Jeffries was arrested recently along with two others. Attorney Brittany Henderson stated that these arrests are significant for male models seeking justice and emphasized the need for accountability from Abercrombie & Fitch.
Jeffries became CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch in 1996 and led the company to early success, but also faced multiple scandals. In 2002, the brand was criticized for racist T-shirts and inappropriate clothing for young girls.
The following year, former employees sued for racial discrimination, resulting in a $40 million settlement without any admission of guilt.
His controversial 2006 interview further fueled backlash when he said the brand targeted “cool kids” and excluded others. He resigned as CEO in 2014 after declining sales and had largely stayed out of the public eye until the recent allegations resurfaced.
If Jeffries and the two others are convicted, they could face life sentences and mandatory minimums of 15 years for the sex trafficking charges. They could also get up to 20 years for the interstate prostitution charges.
