Here are all the charges against ex-Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries

Topline

Mike Jeffries, the former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO accused of forcing aspiring models to have sex while running an international sex trafficking ring, has been diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and may not be fit for trial, as its lawyers recently disclosed in a litigation filing.

Jeffries pleaded not guilty to one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution … (+) in October.

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Important facts

Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and James Jacobson were each charged with sex trafficking and engaging in interstate prostitution, the Justice Department said Tuesday. This led to Jeffries and Jacobson pleading not guilty to their charges in New York in October, while Smith pleaded not guilty in Florida earlier this month.

Prosecutors allege that between December 2008 and March 2015, Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson coerced young men into participating in “sex events” that they believed would provide them with modeling opportunities, even though they also believed failure to do so would harm their careers would.

Jeffries and Smith allegedly provided financial resources to organize the “sex events,” including travel expenses and staff to “facilitate and monitor” the events, while Jacobson traveled across the United States to find men for them to recruit and interview.

According to an indictment unsealed Tuesday, Jacobson allegedly demanded that candidates perform sexual acts on him during these interviews.

Prosecutors also allege that Jeffries and Smith directed others to inject or personally inject some of the prospective models with a “prescription erection-inducing substance” to engage in sexual acts “as they were otherwise physically unable to do so.” “were not ready for it.”

Neither Brian Bieber – Jeffries’ lawyer – nor Abercrombie & Fitch immediately responded to requests for comment, although the lawyers representing Jeffries and Smith previously “vehemently denied any wrongdoing” to the BBC.

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News Peg

According to a court filing Monday, Jeffries was diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease after multiple evaluations by a neuropsychologist. Bieber questioned Jeffries’ competence and focus, saying the former CEO “doesn’t seem remotely like a person with a master’s degree.” Bieber questioned Jeffries’ competency to “rationally support” the case, including discussing his legal defense, the filing said. A competency hearing is scheduled for June to determine whether Jeffries can stand trial.

Crucial quote

Brad Edwards, an attorney representing the alleged victims, accused Jeffries and Smith of running “one of the most organized sex trafficking operations in U.S. history” in a statement to Forbes.

Important background

Jeffries, CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014, was accused in last year’s civil lawsuit of running a sex trafficking ring through the company. Edwards Henderson filed a lawsuit last year accusing Jeffries of promising young men promising corporate modeling jobs over two decades by luring them to locations around the world for sex – an allegation he has denied . The lawsuit detailed alleged incidents in which potential models were interviewed, signed nondisclosure agreements and then taken to a separate room where they were forced to take drugs and have sex with Jeffries, his partner Smith and others. Bieber told NBC News that the former CEO would not comment on reports about his personal life. According to the lawsuit, more than 100 victims would file a class action lawsuit against Jeffries and the company. The lawsuit followed a BBC investigation into Jeffries’ time at Abercrombie & Fitch, which involved 12 aspiring models who said they “attended or organized events” involving sexual acts with Jeffries and Smith.

tangent

Jeffries has been criticized for comments he made during his time as chief executive of Abercrombie. In 2006, Jeffries told Salon that the Abercrombie clothing line was marketed exclusively to “cool, good-looking people” and that the company “does not market to anyone but those.” He later apologized and said the company was “totally opposed” to discrimination and other “derogatory characterizations.” In 2012, a pilot who worked on Abercrombie’s jet filed a discrimination lawsuit against Jeffries, claiming he was fired in favor of a younger man, Bloomberg reported. However, the lawsuit was settled shortly after Jeffries’ testimony. Abercrombie has also faced criticism, including several lawsuits alleging the company discriminated against minorities in the hiring process. In 2009, 17-year-old Samantha Elauf successfully argued that Abercrombie discriminated against her after she was told her hijab violated the company’s look policy, leading to further lawsuits against the company.

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