Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO arrested in international sex trafficking investigation
Mike Jeffries, his partner and another man were arrested by the FBI.
NEW YORK -- Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, his partner Matt Smith and a third man, Jim Jacobson, were arrested Tuesday as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation by the FBI and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn.
Jeffries allegedly used his power to exploit dozens of young men over at least a seven year period beginning on late 2008, federal prosecutors said Tuesday in announcing sex trafficking and prostitution charges contained in a 16-count indictment.
The former CEO 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.
The alleged victims have said they were recruited by a middleman, Jacobson.
There are 15 alleged victims -- identified in the indictment as John Does 1-15 -- but prosecutors and the FBI believe there are dozens more and asked them to come forward.
One of the plaintiffs, David Bradberry, a former "Below Deck" crewman, said Jeffries made Abercrombie successful by the "oversexualization of young men."
His lawsuit accused 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 defendants led the men to believe that attending the events would help their careers, including their chances of getting Abercrombie modeling gigs - or that not complying could harm their prospects, the indictment says.
Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson are charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
''Jeffries was the CEO of one of the most recognizable clothing retailers in the world, he was using his power, his wealth and his influence to traffic men," said U.S. Attorney Eastern District of New York Breon Peace. "The defendants pressured the men to consume alcohol, Viagra and muscle relaxants known as poppers during the sex events, and they required the presence of staff during the sexual activity and ensured that the men did not leave the sex events until Jeffries and Smith decided that the sessions were over."
Prosecutors say Jeffries intentionally targeted heterosexual men who he knew would be unwilling to engage in certain sex acts.
"When men did not or could not consent, Jeffries and Smith violated the bodily integrity of these men by subjecting them or continuing to subject them to invasive sexual and violent contact by body parts and other objects," Peace said.
Federal prosecutors acknowledged the investigation in January after alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit a year ago.
"The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York has launched a criminal investigation of the alleged events and occurrences discussed in Plaintiff's Complaint," prosecutors said in a court filing.
The attorney for the plaintiff, Brad Edwards of Edwards Henderson, told ABC News 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."
Jeffries became CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch in 1992 and left in 2014. The New Albany, Ohio-based company declined to comment on his arrest.
Attorneys for Smith and Jeffries released the following identical statements:
"We will respond in detail to the allegations after the Indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse - not the media."
Jeffries will be released on a $10 million bond following a brief initial appearance before a federal magistrate in Florida, where he was arrested. He will remain at his Palm Beach home until he is summoned to federal court on Long Island for arraignment.
Smith waived pretrial intervention and will be sent to New York and held pending arraignment.
(The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.)
