OAN Staff James Meyers
7:50 AM – Tuesday, October 22, 2024
The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch has reportedly been arrested on sex trafficking charges brought by federal prosecutors in New York.
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Mike Jeffries, along with his partner Matthew Smith and their alleged middle-man James Jacobson, were arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday in connection with sex trafficking charges.
Jeffries was the CEO of the popular clothing brand from 1992 to 2014.
Lawyers for the suspects have previously “vehemently denied” any wrongdoing for their clients.
The arrests come after the FBI opened an investigation last year after the outlet BBC revealed claims that Jeffries and his partner sexually exploited and abused men at events they hosted in their New York residences and hotels across the globe.
The report revealed that 12 men described attending or organizing events that included sex acts for Jeffries and his partner Smith, and those events took place from 2009 to 2015. Some of the men who spoke to the BBC said they were exploited or didn’t participate willingly.
After the report was released, Abercrombie & Fitch and Jeffries were sued for allegedly turning a blind eye to Jeffries’ alleged misconduct. The civil suit claimed he sexually abused numerous men after luring them with the promise of coveted modeling contracts, according to CNBC.
“Today’s arrests are monumental for the aspiring male models who were victimized by these individuals,” Brittany Henderson and Edwards Henderson, the lawyers representing victims from that class action lawsuit, said in a statement Tuesday.
“Their fight for justice does not end here,” the statement said. “We look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.”
Jeffries and Smith are expected to appear in court later on Tuesday.
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