BROOKLYN, NY - On Tuesday, October 22nd, former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and two others were arrested as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and federal prosecutors.
According to ABC News, Jeffries and his partner Matt Smith and a third man, identified as Jim Jacobson, have been accused of operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution business that recruited young men for parties that were taking place in the United States. The indictment alleges that Jeffries and Smith relied on their vast financial resources, Jeffries' power as the CEO of Abercrombie, and numerous people, including Jacobson and other employees, contractors and security professionals to run a business that was illegal.
The indictment said that the business was "dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires and ensuring that their international sex trafficking and prostitution business was kept secret." Federal prosecutors allege that the trio paid dozens of men to travel around the world to engage in sex acts. The indictment mentions 15 alleged victims, identified as John Does #1-15. Jeffries allegedly recruited, hired, and paid a slate of household staff to "facilitate and supervise the Sex Events."
Jacobson would allegedly travel throughout the U.S. and internationally to recruit and interview men for the so-called sex events. Prosecutors said that during these "tryouts" of potential candidates, Jacobson required that the men first engage in sex acts with him.
The indictment says that many of the men were coerced and led to believe that attending the events would yield modeling opportunities with Abercrombie or otherwise benefit their careers. They were also led to believe that by not complying with requests for certain sex acts during the sex events could harm their careers. The defendants have been charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
The men were arrested in Florida and Wisconsin and are expected to make appearances in those jurisdictions before they will be brought to Central Islip in Long Island, New York, for their arraignment. Federal prosecutors had acknowledged the investigation back in January after alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit a year ago.
Jeffries, who transformed Abercrombie from a traditional Ohio outfitter into a powerhouse teen fashion brand, has been accused in civil lawsuits of exploiting young men for sex at parties he hosted at his Hamptons estate in New York, London, Venice, and elsewhere with his partner, Smith. One of the plaintiffs, David Bradberry, a former crewman on the reality series "Below Deck," said Jeffries made Abercrombie successful by the "oversexualization of young men."
His lawsuit accuses Jeffries, Smith, Jacobson, and Abercrombie itself of luring attractive young men under the guise of making them an Abercrombie model and then forcing them to take drugs and perform sex acts. The plaintiff's attorney, Brad Edwards of Edwards Henderson, said in a statement, "As we laid out in our lawsuit, this was an Abercrombie run, sex trafficking organization that permeated throughout the company and allowed the three individuals arrested today to victimize dozens and dozens of young, aspiring male models."
According to NBC News, Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson each face a single count of sex trafficking as well as 15 counts of interstate prostitution tied to 15 alleged victims. Prosecutors allege that the three men operated the sex trafficking and prostitution business from 2008 to 2015. During the sex events, the men recruited to take part were required to sign non-disclosure agreements and surrender their wallets and cell phones.
Breon Peace, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement, "Powerful individuals, for too long, have trafficked and abused for their own sexual pleasure young people with few resources in a dream, a dream of securing a successful career in fashion or entertainment. He said that anyone who thinks they can exploit or coerce individuals by using the "so-called casting couch system" that they should prepare to "trade in that couch for a bed in federal prison."
When asked if the alleged sex trafficking enterprise possibly continued after 2015, Peace said the investigation is ongoing and encourages any victims or witnesses to come forward.
According to ABC News, Jeffries and his partner Matt Smith and a third man, identified as Jim Jacobson, have been accused of operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution business that recruited young men for parties that were taking place in the United States. The indictment alleges that Jeffries and Smith relied on their vast financial resources, Jeffries' power as the CEO of Abercrombie, and numerous people, including Jacobson and other employees, contractors and security professionals to run a business that was illegal.
The indictment said that the business was "dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires and ensuring that their international sex trafficking and prostitution business was kept secret." Federal prosecutors allege that the trio paid dozens of men to travel around the world to engage in sex acts. The indictment mentions 15 alleged victims, identified as John Does #1-15. Jeffries allegedly recruited, hired, and paid a slate of household staff to "facilitate and supervise the Sex Events."
Jacobson would allegedly travel throughout the U.S. and internationally to recruit and interview men for the so-called sex events. Prosecutors said that during these "tryouts" of potential candidates, Jacobson required that the men first engage in sex acts with him.
The indictment says that many of the men were coerced and led to believe that attending the events would yield modeling opportunities with Abercrombie or otherwise benefit their careers. They were also led to believe that by not complying with requests for certain sex acts during the sex events could harm their careers. The defendants have been charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
The men were arrested in Florida and Wisconsin and are expected to make appearances in those jurisdictions before they will be brought to Central Islip in Long Island, New York, for their arraignment. Federal prosecutors had acknowledged the investigation back in January after alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit a year ago.
Jeffries, who transformed Abercrombie from a traditional Ohio outfitter into a powerhouse teen fashion brand, has been accused in civil lawsuits of exploiting young men for sex at parties he hosted at his Hamptons estate in New York, London, Venice, and elsewhere with his partner, Smith. One of the plaintiffs, David Bradberry, a former crewman on the reality series "Below Deck," said Jeffries made Abercrombie successful by the "oversexualization of young men."
His lawsuit accuses Jeffries, Smith, Jacobson, and Abercrombie itself of luring attractive young men under the guise of making them an Abercrombie model and then forcing them to take drugs and perform sex acts. The plaintiff's attorney, Brad Edwards of Edwards Henderson, said in a statement, "As we laid out in our lawsuit, this was an Abercrombie run, sex trafficking organization that permeated throughout the company and allowed the three individuals arrested today to victimize dozens and dozens of young, aspiring male models."
According to NBC News, Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson each face a single count of sex trafficking as well as 15 counts of interstate prostitution tied to 15 alleged victims. Prosecutors allege that the three men operated the sex trafficking and prostitution business from 2008 to 2015. During the sex events, the men recruited to take part were required to sign non-disclosure agreements and surrender their wallets and cell phones.
Breon Peace, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement, "Powerful individuals, for too long, have trafficked and abused for their own sexual pleasure young people with few resources in a dream, a dream of securing a successful career in fashion or entertainment. He said that anyone who thinks they can exploit or coerce individuals by using the "so-called casting couch system" that they should prepare to "trade in that couch for a bed in federal prison."
When asked if the alleged sex trafficking enterprise possibly continued after 2015, Peace said the investigation is ongoing and encourages any victims or witnesses to come forward.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2024-10-23T21:02-0400 | Comment by: Harry
Another LGBTQ+ "All Star" !!!