Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, along with two other men, has been arrested on charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. The details of the charges have not been released yet, but there have been allegations of sexual misconduct against Jeffries for years.
People have accused Jeffries of luring them with promises of modeling work and then forcing them into sexual acts. Jeffries’ attorney, Brian Bieber, has stated that he will respond to the allegations once the indictment is unsealed. The attorneys for the other defendants have not been identified yet.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace and FBI officials are expected to hold a news conference to provide more information on the case. Jeffries left Abercrombie & Fitch in 2014, and there have been claims that he ran a sex-trafficking organization during his time there.
One lawsuit filed in New York last year accused Abercrombie of allowing Jeffries to recruit victims for sex trafficking. It was alleged that Jeffries had modeling scouts searching for victims online, and some of these individuals ended up becoming victims of sex trafficking.
Abercrombie conducted an independent investigation last year after similar allegations were brought to light by the BBC. The investigation included accounts from men who described witnessing sex acts at events organized by Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, in various locations around the world.
When the lawsuit was filed last year, Jeffries’ attorney declined to comment on the allegations. It is crucial to wait for more information to come to light as the case progresses.
