Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries Arrested in Sex Trafficking Investigation

Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, was arrested on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation. The arrest was made in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Jeffries will face charges along with two other associates, Matthew Smith and James Jacobson.

The investigation, led by the FBI and federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, involves allegations that the men sexually exploited and abused young men at parties they hosted in the United States and around the world. This case came to light after alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit a year ago, prompting federal prosecutors to acknowledge the investigation in January.

Jeffries, who served as chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014, has been at the center of controversy in recent times, particularly following a Netflix documentary that highlighted toxic workplace practices during his tenure. The current allegations suggest a more severe and criminal level of misconduct, with the attorney for the plaintiffs describing the situation as an “Abercrombie run, sex trafficking organization” that allowed the arrested individuals to victimize numerous young, aspiring male models.

The FBI and NYPD are expected to join federal prosecutors at a press conference in Brooklyn to provide further details on the case. Attorney information for the defendants was not immediately available.