The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, has been confirmed to be arrested for an allegation of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges. Two senior law enforcement officials who spoke on the incident confirmed the arrest.
It was confirmed that Jeffries was arrested by the authorities in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was also noted that he was arrested alongside two other individuals believed to be his associates. They were named Matthew Smith of West Palm Beach and James Jacobson of Wisconsin; they were all arrested on the allegation of being connected with sex trafficking charges.
It was confirmed that the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York will hold a press conference on Tuesday at noon to address the arrest and the next steps.
The arrest of the individuals has now taken place one year after BBC News published a report which exposed Jefferies as an individual who has been exploiting men at sex parties he had paid to host. According to the report it has been reported that 12 men described attending or organizing events that included sex acts for Jeffries and his partner Matthew Smith, and those events took place from 2009 to 2015. Some of the men who spoke to BBC said they were exploited or didn’t participate willingly.
While speaking to NBC News, Brian Bieber, Jeffries’s lawyer, noted that Jeffries would not comment on his personal life. Abercrombie & Fitch said the company was appalled and sickened by the allegations in the BBC report.
Bieber told NBC News on Tuesday, in response to the arrest, that they will respond in detail to the allegations after the Indictment is unsealed and when appropriate, but they plan to do so in the courthouse, not the media.
Today’s arrests are monumental for the aspiring male models who these individuals victimized, attorney Brittany Henderson, who is representing victims from that class action lawsuit, said in a statement Tuesday.
It was explained that their fight for justice does not end here at the court. The attorney further explained that they look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.
