Former Abercrombie CEO Jeffries pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges involving male models and was placed under house arrest

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking male models for his parties, US prosecutors said on Friday, October 27 (local time). Mike Jeffries signed a $10 million bail bond, using his New York home as collateral. He will be kept under house arrest with electronic monitoring while awaiting trial, AFP reported.

Jeffries, 80, was arrested on Tuesday and appeared in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, where he denied the allegations. The fashion executive was accompanied by his British partner, Matthew Smith, who is also accused of sex crimes, and Jeffries’ son and his wife.

Old-CEO of Abercrombie & FitchThe case dates back to 2023, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched an investigation after the BBC uncovered allegations that Mike Jeffries and his partner had sexually abused and harassed men at events they held at their homes and hotels in New York. World.

The BBC’s investigative film, titled “The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool”, revealed a “sophisticated operation” involving a middleman and a network of recruiters tasked with finding men for these events. Several men described their experiences signing confidentiality agreements for events allegedly organized by Jeffries.

Court sources state: jeffries He is prohibited from communicating with defendants, witnesses or victims. The next hearing is scheduled for December 12 before Justice Nusrat Choudhury.

Jeffries and Smith’s mechanic, Jacobson, also pleaded not guilty to the same charges and will remain under house arrest after posting $500,000 bail.

‘Force, fraud and coercion…’

Although Smith has not yet been brought to trial; But a federal judge in West Palm Beach, Florida, ordered him detained Tuesday, citing concerns he might escape because he carries a British passport.

Prosecutors in the case alleged that between December 2008 and March 2015, Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson used a mix of “force, fraud and coercion” to traffic men in a large prostitution operation.

Fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch said it was “horrified and disgusted” by the allegations against Jeffries and maintained a “zero tolerance” policy against any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination, AFP reported.

(with input from agencies)