Mike Jeffries is within the custody of West Palm Seaside, Florida, police. The previous Abercrombie & Fitch CEO is accused of participating in intercourse trafficking and interstate prostitution, per NBC Information. 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 fees. All three males reportedly had their federal courtroom appearances in Florida on Tuesday.
Finally, Mike Jeffries was indicted on 16 federal counts of intercourse trafficking and worldwide prostitution, per CNN. NBC experiences 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 experiences.
Breon Peace, an lawyer for the Jap 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 one of the crucial recognizable clothes retailers on this planet, he was utilizing his energy, his wealth, and his affect to site 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 boys who carried out industrial intercourse acts for Mike and Matt. Moreover, he allegedly generally required the boys to “check out” by participating in acts with him first.
The romantic companions allegedly hosted drug-fueled “intercourse occasions” in the course of the time described. Victims had been allegedly given muscle relaxants resembling 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 workers to oversee the intercourse occasions and required signed non-disclosure agreements.
Moreover, the indictment alleges that the boys 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 staff, 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 throughout the U.S. and different nations for sexual acts. These areas included the Hamptons and New York Metropolis and lodges in England, France, Italy, Morocco, and Saint Barthélémy.
“The message from right now’s prosecution is evident: sexually exploiting susceptible human beings is a criminal offense in doing so by dangling desires of a future in vogue or modeling or or another enterprise isn’t any totally different,” U.S. Lawyer 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 fees comply with one other related high-profile case that’s additionally based mostly 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 fees. Earlier this month, a choose set his trial begin for 2025. He stays behind bars in Brooklyn, New York Metropolis. Most not too long ago, his little kids penned a public message standing on their assist for him.
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