Mike Jeffries, former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, and James Jacobson denied sex trafficking charges during their court appearance in Central Islip, New York, on Friday.
Jeffries avoided eye contact with Jacobson while his attorney, Brian H. Bieber, spoke for him. “We plead not guilty, your honor,” Bieber declared.
Jeffries remains free on a $10 million bond but gave up his passport. Authorities have confined him to his homes in Florida, New York City, or Long Island, with GPS tracking in place. Jacobson’s bond is set at $500,000, and he must remain in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, under GPS monitoring.
Authorities charged Matthew Smith, Jeffries’ partner, with similar crimes, but he missed the arraignment. Smith stays in custody in West Palm Beach as officials negotiate his bail. No court date has been set for Smith.
The three men face one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution. A judge ordered them to avoid contact with each other.
Bieber stated that they will address the charges in court once the indictment is unsealed. “We plan to do so in the courthouse — not the media,” Bieber emphasized.
Allegations of International Trafficking and Coercion
Prosecutors allege that Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson ran an international sex trafficking and prostitution scheme from 2008 to 2015. They claim the trio hosted sex events in England, France, Italy, Morocco, St. Barts, New York City, and the Hamptons.
Authorities say the men used deceptive tactics to recruit and control young male participants. Many recruits were aspiring models, some as young as 19, and in financially vulnerable positions.
The indictment accuses household staff of aiding the scheme. Allegedly, staff collected participants’ belongings and supplied alcohol, muscle relaxants, and condoms. Payments to participants reportedly came from Jacobson or household staff.
Prosecutors allege that a security firm managed nondisclosure agreements, background checks, and victim intimidation. They claim the accused used burner phones to avoid detection.
Claims of Abuse and Financial Influence
Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for New York’s Eastern District, asserts that Jeffries and Smith spent millions to fund the operation. Allegations state they paid staff and silenced participants with large cash payments, sometimes totaling “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Prosecutors allege the recruitment process involved interviews that concealed event details. Jacobson allegedly required recruits to perform sexual acts with him during “tryouts” before participating in events.
Jeffries and Smith allegedly administered prescription-grade substances to unwilling participants to induce erections. Authorities also accuse the trio of violating the bodily integrity of participants.
The allegations surfaced after a 2022 BBC report claimed Jeffries lured men to sex parties under the guise of modeling opportunities. This report prompted a civil lawsuit against Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch, which remains unresolved.
Jeffries led Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014. While the company achieved financial success during his tenure, critics accused the brand of discriminatory hiring practices and using predominantly white models.