The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, and his partner, Matthew Smith, are at the centre of serious allegations involving sex trafficking.
- The pair were arrested following a BBC investigation that unveiled allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse linked to events they held worldwide.
- The investigation highlighted an alleged network involving a middleman and recruiters coordinating these events.
- A civil lawsuit has been filed in New York, accusing the couple of severe crimes including rape and sexual assault, implicating the former CEO in leading a trafficking operation.
- Abercrombie & Fitch denies any involvement, asserting the current leadership was unaware of these allegations until contacted by the media.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, Mike Jeffries, along with his partner Matthew Smith, has been apprehended under suspicion of orchestrating a sex trafficking operation. The arrest, carried out this morning, follows an extensive investigation by the BBC, which alleges that the pair were involved in exploiting young men during events hosted at their New York residences and various hotels around the globe.
The investigation suggests a sophisticated operation, employing a middleman along with a network of recruiters charged with sourcing men for these events. This has prompted action from the FBI, who initiated their own inquiry last year. Legal representatives for Jeffries and Smith have consistently denied these allegations, opting to address the issue thoroughly in court rather than through media outlets.
A civil lawsuit has subsequently been filed in New York, levelling accusations of sex trafficking, rape, and sexual assault against Jeffries and Smith. The suit further claims that the operations were clandestinely backed by the fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch during Jeffries’ two-decade tenure as CEO. Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing several alleged victims, remarked, “These arrests are a huge first step towards obtaining justice for the many victims who were exploited and abused through this sex-trafficking scheme that operated for many years under the legitimate cover Abercrombie provided.”
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Abercrombie & Fitch has distanced itself from the controversy. In official statements, the retailer has reaffirmed its stance against sexual abuse, clarifying that its present leadership team had no knowledge of these supposed activities until prompted by the BBC’s inquiries.
The legal proceedings against Jeffries and Smith mark a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the alleged victims.
