Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO charged with sex trafficking of over dozen victims: prosecutors

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and two others were arrested Tuesday as part of a criminal investigation into suspected sex trafficking involving more than a dozen victims, according to the FBI and federal prosecutors.

Jeffries; his partner Matt Smith; and a third man, Jim Jacobson, are accused of operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution operation that recruited young men for parties in the United States and abroad, according to a 16-count indictment.

The former retail executive and Smith relied on their vast financial resources, Jeffries' power as CEO of Abercrombie and numerous people, including Jacobson and a network of employees, contractors and security experts, to run a company “dedicated to achieving their goals.” “sexual desires and ensured that their international sex trafficking and prostitution business was kept secret,” the indictment says.

Federal prosecutors said the trio allegedly paid dozens of men to travel around the world to engage in sexual acts over a period of at least seven years starting in late 2008. The indictment names 15 alleged victims, identified as John Does No. 1-No. 15 were identified. Jeffries allegedly recruited, hired and paid a number of domestic workers to “facilitate and monitor the sex events.”

Prosecutors and the FBI believe there are many more victims and urged them to come forward.

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According to prosecutors, Jacobson allegedly traveled throughout the United States and internationally to recruit and interview men for so-called sex events. During “dry exams” of potential candidates, Jacobson first required the candidates to perform sexual acts on him, prosecutors said.

The indictment alleges that many of the men were coerced, leading to the belief that attending the events would provide modeling opportunities with Abercrombie or otherwise benefit their careers, or alternatively, that failure to comply Requests to perform certain actions during sex events could be harmful to their careers.

The defendants are accused of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Jeffries was released on a $10 million bond after appearing briefly before a federal judge in Florida on Tuesday afternoon and being arrested.

“Today marks a major step forward for David Bradberry and the other survivors of this action,” Dean Kaire, an Edwards Henderson attorney representing several of the alleged victims, said after the court appearance, according to WPBF.

David Bradberry, a former crew member on the reality series “Below Deck,” said Jeffries made Abercrombie successful by “oversexualizing young men.”

His lawsuit accused Jeffries, Smith, Jacobson and Abercrombie itself of luring attractive young men under the guise of turning them into Abercrombie models and then forcing them into drugs and sexual acts.

“This morning’s arrest serves as a validation of their courage to come forward and share their stories and experiences,” Kaire said, “and our law firm looks forward to continuing to represent all survivors of abuse and ensuring that all parties are held accountable.” become.”

Smith, a British citizen, waived pretrial intervention and is being sent from Florida to New York, where he will be held pending arraignment. Jacobson was arrested in Minnesota and released on $500,000 bail following an arraignment in federal court in St. Paul.

Jeffries and Jacobson will be arraigned Friday in federal court in Central Islip, Long Island.

“We will respond to the allegations in detail after the indictment is unsealed and as necessary, but we plan to do so in the courthouse – not in the media,” said Brian Bieber, an attorney for Jeffries, and Joe Nascimento, an attorney for Smith. said ABC News in identical statements.

Abercrombie & Fitch and an attorney for Jacobson declined ABC News' requests for comment.

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Federal prosecutors confirmed the investigation in January after alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit a year ago.

Jeffries, who served as chairman and CEO of the successful teen fashion brand from 1992 to 2014, 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 hosted partner, Smith.

Brad Edwards of Edwards Henderson, which represents several of the plaintiffs, told ABC News in a statement: “As we have outlined in our lawsuit, this was an Abercrombie-run sex trafficking organization that permeated the entire company and led to the arrest of the three individuals “Today, dozens and dozens of young, aspiring male models are being victimized.”

“For too long, powerful individuals have trafficked and abused young people for their own sexual pleasure with few resources and a dream – the dream of having a successful career in fashion or entertainment,” said U.S. Attorneys Breon Peace on Tuesday.

ABC News' Laryssa Demkiw contributed to this report.

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO charged with sex trafficking involving over dozen victims: Prosecutors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com