The former CEO of the renowned fashion company Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, was arrested by the FBI in collaboration with federal authorities for exploiting and sexually abusing young men. Jeffries worked at Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014. Jeffries, known for transforming Abercrombie from a traditional clothing brand in Ohio to a powerful brand focused on teenagers, faces previous allegations in civil lawsuits of the sexual exploitation of young men at parties he hosted at his property in the Hamptons, New York, as well as in European cities such as Venice and London. He retired from the company with a retirement package of more than 25 million dollars. The arrests of Jeffries and two other men, Matt Smitt from Florida and Jim Jacobson from Wisconsin, were made for allegedly luring young men with the promise of turning them into models for the company, forcing them to consume drugs and engage in sexual acts, according to a lawsuit filed by the victims and investigated by the Federal Prosecutor's Office for the Eastern District of New York. A previous report by the BBC revealed that Jeffries allegedly exploited men at sex parties, according to witness accounts. Abercrombie & Fitch has hired a law firm to investigate the accusations separately. The arrests come a year after the BBC report came to light and add to the controversy surrounding the allegations of sexual exploitation against former Abercrombie president Mike Jeffries and his partner Matt Smitt.
Former Abercrombie CEO Arrested for Sexual Exploitation
Mike Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, was arrested along with two others for sexually exploiting young men under the pretense of modeling. The allegations include forced drug use and participation in sexual acts. The FBI's investigation follows a year-long inquiry into these claims, highlighting a troubling pattern of exploitation. Jeffries, who led the brand from 1992 to 2014, faces severe legal scrutiny as the situation unfolds.
