Ex-Abercrombie CEO arrested in sex-trafficking investigation

The former chief executive of fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch and his British girlfriend have been arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and abuse.

Mike Jeffries and Matthew Smith, who led the brand that was especially popular among teenagers from 1992 to 2014, were spotted in West Florida on the morning of Tuesday, October 22nd, along with another man named Jim Jacobson. He was arrested in Palm Beach. He was a “mediator.”

The arrests follow an investigation dating back to last year into which Jeffreys and Smith allegedly sexually abused men who wanted to become A&F models.

According to the BBCJeffries is accused of abusing men at sex parties held in couples’ homes and hotel suites around the world in what is described as a “highly organized network” of sex traffickers. .

The models claimed they were paid up to $1,000 to attend the party, given poppers and made to sign non-disclosure agreements. of The FBI has begun an investigation. Following the BBC’s claims.

said Brad Edwards of the law firm Edwards Henderson, which represents some of the models. BBC: “These arrests are a big step in getting justice for many people.” [alleged] Victims exploited and abused through years of sex trafficking schemes that operated under the legal cover provided by Abercrombie.

“The BBC’s unprecedented reporting and the legal action we brought to uncover the details of this operation will be credited with these monumental arrests, which were the result of impressive investigative reporting. ”