Federal prosecutors have charged former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries with operating an international sex trafficking business and allegedly paying dozens of men to travel to engage in commercial sex acts.
Jeffries, his romantic partner, Matthew Smith, and James Jacobson, their employee, each face one count of sex trafficking and fifteen counts of interstate prostitution. The indictment was unsealed after the three were arrested earlier on Tuesday.
Charging documents reference 15 unnamed victims whom Jeffries and the two others allegedly forced into prostitution between 2008 and 2015, but U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said the allegations “encompassed dozens and dozens of men.”
“To anyone who thinks they can exploit and coerce others by using the so-called ‘casting couch’ system, this case should serve as a warning. Prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison,” Peace said at a press conference.
The charges follow a BBC investigation published a year ago finding that Jeffries and Smith recruited and exploited young men for sex events around the world. A civil lawsuit filed by a former Abercrombie & Fitch model made similar allegations.
Jeffries served as chairman and CEO of the clothing retailer, which also owns brands Abercrombie Kids and Hollister, from 1992 to 2014.
Abercrombie & Fitch and Jeremy Schneider, Jacobson’s attorney, declined to comment. The Hill has reached out to Jeffries’ and Smith’s attorneys for comment.
According to the indictment, Jeffries used his power and financial resources to recruit and hire the men to travel to hotels in places like New York, Italy and Morrocco to engage in “sex events” under the guise that participating would lead to Abercrombie modeling opportunities.
Jacobson would allegedly hold a “tryout” with a victim before Jeffries would approve their selection. Victims were pressured to consume alcohol and sex drugs like Viagra and poppers as they were forced to engage in various sexual acts with the defendants, charging documents state.
“We hope our work is able to bring some sense of dignity back to the survivors,” Carlos Ortiz, who leads the New York City Police Department’s special victims unit, said at Tuesday’s press conference.
The defendants are set to make their first court appearances later Tuesday in Florida and Minnesota, though the case will be tried on Long Island. Federal prosecutors are seeking to detain Smith pending trial while enabling Jeffries and Jacobson to be released to home detention if they post a “substantial, secured bond.”
“Such terms are necessary to ensure that the defendants neither flee nor engage in further criminal activity harmful to the community,” prosecutors wrote in court filings.
Updated: 12:46 p.m.