Mike Jeffries is within the custody of West Palm Seashore, Florida, police. The previous Abercrombie & Fitch CEO is accused of participating in intercourse trafficking and interstate prostitution, per NBC News. He labored for the favored retailer between 1992 and 2014.
Cops didn’t solely bag Mike on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Associates of his, Matthew Smith and James Jacobson are additionally in police custody in connection to the trafficking costs. All three males reportedly had their federal courtroom appearances in Florida on Tuesday.
In the end, Mike Jeffries was indicted on 16 federal counts of intercourse trafficking and worldwide prostitution, per CNN. NBC studies that there was one rely for trafficking and 15 counts for the opposite cost associated to an alleged 15 victims. Matt and James had been additionally indicted on Tuesday, CNN studies.
Breon Peace, an legal professional for the Japanese District of NY, mentioned on Tuesday that Mike Jeffries and Matthew had been romantic companions who trafficked for self-pleasure.
“Whereas Jeffries was the CEO of some of the recognizable clothes retailers on the planet, he was utilizing his energy, his wealth, and his affect to visitors males for his personal sexual pleasure and that of his romantic companion, Matthew Smith,” Breon Peace reportedly mentioned in a press convention.
Right here’s What Prosecutors Allege Mike Jeffries Did
The indictment reportedly alleges that Mike, Matthew, and James all ran an “worldwide intercourse trafficking and prostitution enterprise” between December 2008 and March 2015. James, particularly, was the “recruiter” of the group, per CNN. He would reportedly interview and rent the lads who carried out industrial intercourse acts for Mike and Matt. Moreover, he allegedly typically required the lads to “check out” by participating in acts with him first.
The romantic companions allegedly hosted drug-fueled “intercourse occasions” through the time described. Victims had been allegedly given muscle relaxants comparable to poppers. Moreover, the occasions supplied alcohol, lubricant, Viagra, condoms, intercourse toys, and different objects for the acts. Mike and Matt additionally reportedly employed separate family employees to oversee the intercourse occasions and required signed non-disclosure agreements.
Moreover, the indictment alleges that the lads lured victims with the promise of modeling and profession alternatives at Abercrombie & Fitch and infrequently focused heterosexual males. Not solely that, Mike Jeffries and Matthew allegedly tapped right into a community of workers, contractors, and safety professionals from the retail firm to run the trafficking ring.
Additionally, the indictment claims that the couple paid for males to journey inside the U.S. and different nations for sexual acts. These areas included the Hamptons and New York Metropolis and motels in England, France, Italy, Morocco, and Saint Barthélémy.
“The message from in the present day’s prosecution is evident: sexually exploiting susceptible human beings is a criminal offense in doing so by dangling desires of a future in style or modeling or or every other enterprise isn’t any completely different,” U.S. Legal professional Peace mentioned.
What Occurs Subsequent?
Mike’s lawyer, Brian Bieber, mentioned he plans to reply in courtroom to the allegations after the indictment is unsealed. Smith’s lawyer reportedly shared the identical message on Tuesday.
Mike Jeffries’ intercourse trafficking costs observe one other comparable high-profile case that’s additionally primarily based in New York. Final month, federal brokers arrested Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs at a lodge in NYC on intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution costs. Earlier this month, a choose set his trial start for 2025. He stays behind bars in Brooklyn, New York Metropolis. Most just lately, his little children penned a public message supporting their dad.
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