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Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was arrested in connection to a sex trafficking sting on Tuesday (October 22).
Jeffries was detained in West Palm Beach, Florida, and his business associates, Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, were also arrested following an investigation, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the New York Post. Charges in the sex trafficking and interstate prostitution case were set to officially be announced during a news conference held by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn on Tuesday (October 22) and reports indicated that a "former CEO of a major company" would be included prior to Jeffries being identified.
The FBI began probing claims Jeffries had orchestrated elaborate sex events to exploit and sexually abuse young male models during his 22-year tenure with Abercrombie & Fitch about a year ago after BBC News reported that 12 men claimed they were lured to events at Jeffries' upscale New York residence or luxury hotels between 2009 and 2015. Jeffries, who left Abercrombie in 2014 prior to the allegations, has publicly denied any wrongdoing, while his attorney, Brian Bieber, told NBC News, “We will respond in detail to the allegations after the Indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse – not the media.”
Abercrombie & Fitch had previously said it was "appalled and disgusted" by the claims against its former CEO.