Former CEO of the American fashion house Abercrombie & Fitch, known for its shirtless models and provocative ads, Mike Jeffries, and his partner, Matthew Smith, have been arrested on charges of sex trafficking. The arrests, which took place this morning, reportedly include an alleged intermediary involved in the case. The FBI and the district attorney’s office have announced that further details will be provided in an upcoming press conference.
Lawyers for Jeffries and Smith have promptly denied any wrongdoing on behalf of their clients. The investigation began last year, following a BBC report that uncovered accusations against the pair, alleging that they sexually exploited and abused men during private events hosted at their New York residences and in luxury hotels across various locations around the world.
The BBC investigation revealed a complex network involving an intermediary and a series of recruiters tasked with selecting young men to attend these exclusive events. Brad Edwards, an attorney from Edwards Henderson law firm, who represents some of the alleged victims, stated that these arrests mark a significant step forward in seeking justice for those who were allegedly trapped in what has been described as a “sophisticated sex trafficking scheme.”
Edwards added that the arrests were the result of high-level investigative journalism and the lawsuit filed by his firm, which exposed the details of the operation, hidden for years behind the respectable front of Abercrombie & Fitch.
