Former Abercrombie & Fitch chief executive Mike Jeffries has been accused by the US of running a sex trafficking ring that forced young men to engage in sexual acts with him in the hope of a modeling career.

Jeffries, 80, was arrested along with his romantic partner and another man and charged with one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution, according to an indictment unsealed in federal court on Tuesday.

“Aspiring models knew that a spot in one of Abercrombie's iconic ads could be the ticket to success,” Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, said at a news conference announcing the case. “While Jeffries was the CEO of one of the most well-known clothing retailers in the world, he used his power, wealth and influence to sell men for his own sexual pleasure and that of his romantic partner Matthew Smith.”

If convicted of the most serious charge of sex trafficking, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum of 15 years in prison.

Brian Bieber, an attorney for Jeffries, said in a statement: “We will respond fully to the allegations after the indictment is dropped, and if necessary, we plan to do so in the courthouse – not in the media.” An attorney von Smith did not immediately respond to voicemails and emails seeking comment. Jeremy Schneider, who represents the third defendant, James Jacobson, declined to comment.

A representative for Abercrombie, who has not been charged, also declined to comment.

The company's shares closed down 3.2% at $154.82.

Sex tryouts

From at least late 2008 to early 2015, Jeffries and Smith spent millions of dollars running a “massive” sex trafficking ring to victimize the men and “lavished money on staff to run the sex events,” the U.S. alleged.

According to Peace, they paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the men travel to their homes in the Hamptons on Long Island and to hotels in England, France, Italy, Morocco and the Caribbean for “sex events.” Meanwhile, Jacobson, who worked for the couple, conducted sex tests and recruited men as candidates, US sources said.

The defendants allegedly used alcohol, muscle relaxants called poppers, and “force, fraud and coercion” to operate the illegal business, while Jeffries and Smith relied on their “vast financial resources” and Jeffries' position as CEO to kidnap the men to exploit. According to the government, the men were required to sign nondisclosure agreements and threatened with reprisals if they complained.

At least 15 men were lured to the fashion brand with the promise of modeling opportunities, Peace said. He said the actual number of victims was “dozens and dozens” and urged all victims to come forward as the investigation continues. The FBI has also set up a hotline.

Jeffries and Smith appeared before a federal court judge in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. Jeffries was released on a $10 million bond. Smith, a British citizen, was held without bail. Jacobson appeared in federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was released on $500,000 bail, peace spokesman John Marzulli said.

“All-American Look”

Jeffries was hired in 1992 by Leslie Wexner, the founder of the company's former parent company, Limited Brands (now L Brands), which also owned Victoria's Secret. He used bold marketing to sell an aspirational image of the “cool kid,” a man who plays rugby shirtless and wears an “all-American” look.

Jeffries was also sued over allegations that he forced models to take drugs and engage in sexual acts with him and others in exchange for the chance to be featured in the company's provocative fashion catalogs. A lawsuit against him and Abercrombie in federal court in Manhattan alleges he used his position to recruit men and invite them to casting sessions at his homes in New York, the Hamptons and elsewhere.

According to the lawsuit filed by former Abercrombie model David Bradberry, the ex-CEO used his role “to take advantage of attractive young men who believed that Jeffries would hire them as Abercrombie models – the height of the men's modeling industry during that time.” the relevant period.”

Bradberry claims Abercrombie “knew it was the financial lifeblood of a sex trafficking organization run by its CEO from at least 1992 to 2014” and that there could be more than 100 victims.

Attorneys for Jeffries and Abercrombie defended themselves in a filing this month asking that the lawsuit be dismissed.

Prosecutor's warning

Brad Edwards, a Bradberry attorney who also represents victims of Jeffrey Epstein, said the criminal charges gave his client “an overwhelming sense of vindication.” He said: “It took an enormous amount of courage for each of these men to come forward and speak out.”

New Albany, Ohio-based Abercrombie, once known for its perfume stores and shirtless models, is making a comeback among Gen Z and Millennial adults, reinventing its brand by embracing more inclusive sizing and expanding its denim offerings. Jeffries left the company in 2014 after clothing lines Abercrombie and Hollister lost their reputation among teenage shoppers.

“This case should serve as a warning,” Peace said at the news conference. “Sexual exploitation of vulnerable people is a crime.”

The case is US v. Jeffries, 24-cr-00423, US District Court, Eastern District of New York (Central Islip).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)