Abercrombie’s longtime former CEO Mike Jeffries and partner Matthew Smith were arrested in Florida on Tuesday in connection with sex trafficking-related charges, announced Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, in a press conference on Tuesday.
According to the indictment, Jeffries, Smith and an employee of theirs, James Jacobson, allegedly ran an international sex trafficking and prostitution ring from 2008 to 2015. The illicit business allegedly involved paying for secret sex with potentially dozens of men, including 15 unnamed victims in the complaint. Jeffries and Smith used their vast wealth and power to maintain the secrecy of the activities, authorities said. Jeffries served as CEO of the expensive clothing brand from 1992 to 2014 when it reached peak popularity among teens and college students, and his activities were hidden to shield his reputation as a powerful executive.
