Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries used power, wealth and influence to traffic vulnerable men, prosecutors say

Summary

The former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch is alleged to have used his wealth, power and reputation to take advantage of "vulnerable human beings", federal prosecutors say
Mike Jeffries, his British partner Matthew Smith, and a middleman were arrested on sex trafficking charges earlier following a BBC investigation
Prosecutors say Jeffries and Smith spent millions of dollars on the trafficking operation and its secrecy
They took advantage of men by “dangling dreams of a future in fashion or modelling”, pressured them into consuming drugs, and made them sign non-disclosure agreements, prosecutors allege
Lawyers for Jeffries and Smith have both previously denied any wrongdoing
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Live Reporting

Edited by Dulcie Lee and Johanna Chisholm

What did the initial BBC investigation find?published at 16:47 British Summer Time 22 October
Image source, AP
The BBC initially spoke to 12 men who described attending or organising events involving sex acts run for Mike Jeffries, 79, and his British partner Matthew Smith, 60, between 2009 and 2015.
Eight of those men who attended the events said they were recruited by a middleman who the BBC identified as James Jacobson.
Jacobson, 70, previously told the BBC in a statement through his lawyer that he took offence at the suggestion of "any coercive, deceptive or forceful behaviour on my part" and had "no knowledge of any such conduct by others".
The BBC also interviewed dozens of other sources, including former household staff.
Some of the men the BBC spoke to said they were misled about the nature of the events or not told sex was involved. Others said they understood the events would be sexual, but not exactly what was expected of them. All were paid.
Several told the BBC the middleman or other recruiters raised the possibility of modelling opportunities with A&F.
In the year since the investigation was published, eight more men have spoken to the BBC. The FBI also launched an investigation following the BBC’s reporting, and 20 men in total have now told us they attended or helped organise these events.
- Read more on the BBC's investigation
Fashion giant Abercrombie declines to comment on arrestspublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 22 October
Abercrombie & Fitch has declined to comment on news of these latest arrests.
The company announced it was opening its own independent investigation into the allegations raised against its former CEO, Mike Jeffries, after the BBC's investigation was published.
The BBC recently asked the company when its report would be completed and if the findings would be made public - the company declined to answer.
The brand has said it had no knowledge of "the supposed sex-trafficking venture" led by its former CEO - which it has been accused of having funded.
In its defence submitted to court regarding a civil suit filed against the company, A&F said it "abhors sexual abuse and condemns the alleged conduct" by Jeffries and others.
Arrests a huge first step, says lawyer for alleged victimspublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 22 October
Civil lawyer Brad Edwards, who is representing some of the alleged victims, said the arrests "are a huge step towards obtaining justice for the many victims who were exploited and abused through this sex-trafficking scheme that operated or many years under the legitimate cover Abercrombie provided.
"The unprecedented reporting of the BBC, coupled with the lawsuit our firm filed detailing the operation, are to credit for these monumental arrests. This was the result of impressive investigative journalism.”
BBC investigation triggered FBI probepublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 22 October
The FBI opened an investigation last year after the BBC revealed claims that Mike Jeffries and his partner sexually exploited and abused men at events they hosted in their New York residences and hotels around the world.
A BBC investigation found there was a sophisticated operation involving a middleman and a network of recruiters tasked with recruiting men for the events.
Following the BBC’s reporting, a civil lawsuit was filed in New York accusing Jeffries and Smith of sex trafficking, rape and sexual assault.
The lawsuit also accused Abercrombie & Fitch of having funded a sex trafficking operation led by its former CEO over the two decades he was in charge.
Under US law, sex trafficking includes getting an adult to travel to another state or country to have sex for money by using force, fraud or coercion.
Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch arrestedpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 22 October
The former CEO of fashion retail giant Abercrombie & Fitch and his British partner have been arrested on sex trafficking charges.
Mike Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and the couple’s alleged middleman were arrested earlier.
The FBI and prosecutor's office are expected to announce more details at a press conference in an hour.
Lawyers for Jeffries and Smith have both previously denied any wrongdoing by both men.
Responding to the latest news, Jeffries' lawyer told the BBC: "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." A lawyer for Smith has been approached for comment.
Stay with us for live updates.