Posted by Brian Myers | Published
The longtime CEO of the clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch has been arrested on charges related to sex trafficking. Mike Jeffries, who served as the company’s leader from 1992 until 2014, was charged with his partner Matthew Smith and a suspect named James Jacobson following a lengthy investigation.
Many details about the alleged crimes against Jeffries remain shrouded in mystery, but an upcoming press conference with the FBI and the state attorney’s office is expected to shed more light on the charges.
Mike Jeffries held the position of CEO at Abercrombie & Fitch until 2014 when he resigned amid declining sales.
What is known is that the FBI began investigating Mike Jeffries last year for funding what has been described as a two-decade-long sex-trafficking operation. The activities of the state agency were reported by the BBC, which conducted its own investigations into criminal and civil complaints. The media was able to interview 12 men who “described attending or organizing events involving sexual acts conducted by Mr. Jeffries between 2009 and 2015.”
Eight men interviewed by the BBC said they were recruited to attend the event by James Jacobson. Some of the men said they knew the meetings would be sexual, but they felt misled. Others said they didn’t know there would be any sexual activity involved at all. The allegations of one man, David Bradberry, may provide insight into the motivation for meetings between various men and Mike Jeffries.
Bradberry, who was 23 when she met Jacobson, insists she was told she would need to perform oral sex on a medium if the model wished to meet then-CEO Mike Jeffries. Bradberry went on to say that after that, he went to Jeffries’ mansion in Long Island, New York to meet him to have sex.
The criminal charges against the embattled former CEO are the latest in a series of controversies that include a series of civil lawsuits filed against him.
The government’s investigation involved not only statements from alleged victims, but also an unknown number of domestic workers employed by Mike Jeffries.
Mike Jeffries’ attorneys deny any wrongdoing by either side and are committed to answering all allegations after the details of the case become available. But, they added, these answers will take place in a court of law and not in media interviews.
In the United States, a violation of federal sex trafficking laws occurs when a party arranges for an adult to cross national or international borders to engage in sex for the purpose of obtaining money if it is determined that a degree of coercion, coercion, or fraud is involved.
The criminal charges against the embattled former CEO are the latest in a series of controversies that include a series of civil lawsuits filed against him. Mike Jeffries won one court battle, however, against the company he once represented. A US court ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch must pay Jeffries’ defense, as the charges against him are related to his position as CEO.
Mike Jeffries’ attorneys deny any wrongdoing by either side and are committed to answering all allegations after the details of the case become available.
Mike Jeffries held the position of CEO at Abercrombie & Fitch until 2014 when he resigned amid declining sales. His golden parachute included a retirement package worth an estimated $25 million.
But despite his high net worth and powerful position at one of the world’s most prestigious fashion chains, his reputation for running the company has been tarnished over the years by allegations of discrimination against his employees, his extravagant spending habits, and the behavior of his romantic partner Matthew Smith. he seemed to guide Jeffries’ decisions.
Sources: BBC
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