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Former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries Arrested in Sex-Trafficking Scandal
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Police arrested Mike Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Tuesday in connection with a sex-trafficking investigation.

The 80-year-old, accused of sexually abusing over 100 men, was detained in West Palm Beach, Florida, the New York Post reports.

His partner, Matthew Smith, 61, and business associate, James Jacobson, 71, were also arrested. Jacobson, reportedly a middleman in the operation, was previously described by accusers as missing his nose and using a snakeskin patch, according to an earlier report.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn were scheduled to announce charges Tuesday in a case involving sex trafficking and interstate prostitution, reportedly connected to a “former CEO of a major company.”

The New York Times reports that the arrests followed an FBI investigation launched about a year ago into allegations that Jeffries, the orchestrated lavish sex parties to exploit young male models during his time at the company.

The accusations first emerged in a BBC News report, where 12 men claimed they were enticed to attend events at Jeffries’ New York residence or luxury hotels in fashion hubs between 2009 and 2015.

The prosecutor’s office, alongside the FBI and NYPD, is expected to provide more information on the case during a news briefing Tuesday afternoon.

Last year’s lawsuit also accused Abercrombie & Fitch of playing a role in the alleged trafficking scheme, claiming that the company ignored the misconduct tied to Mike Jeffries. The retailer’s spokesperson declined to comment on Jeffries’ recent arrest or the pending lawsuit.

Abercrombie had previously expressed being “appalled and disgusted” by the claims against Jeffries and had hired an outside law firm to investigate the matter.

Jeffries’ lawyer, Brian Bieber, did not address the sex trafficking charges but said his team plans to provide a detailed legal response in court when appropriate.

“Their fight for justice does not end here,” Brittany Henderson, a partner at the law firm for plaintiffs in the class action suit.

“Our clients look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.”

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[Feature Photo: FILE – In this May 22, 2017, file photo, a store window reflects a street scene at an Abercrombie & Fitch store on New York’s Fifth Avenue. A former model for Abercrombie & Fitch has sued the fashion retailer, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, alleging it allowed its former CEO Mike Jeffries to run a sex-trafficking organization during his 22-year tenure.(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)]