Oct 25, 2024 - Business

Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO pleads not guilty to sex trafficking, prostitution charges

April Rubin

Mike Jeffries walks outside. He wears a dark suit and white shirt — Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries leaves a Long Island court on Oct. 25 in Central Islip, New York, with members of his legal team after pleading not guilty to sex-trafficking charges. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries pleaded not guilty on Friday to 16 counts of sex trafficking and international prostitution in Central Islip, New York, multiple outlets reported.

The big picture: Jeffries and two other men were arrested earlier this week for allegedly running a trafficking operation from 2008 to 2015 that coerced young men. Those arrested spent millions to support and cover it up, the indictment said.

James Jacobson, who is alleged to have acted as a "recruiter," also entered a not guilty plea on Friday.
Jeffries' partner, Matt Smith, was charged but has not been arraigned.

Context: Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson were arrested on Tuesday, a year after a lawsuit from a former Abercrombie model alleged that they sexually abused hopeful models.

The model said the company "knew about, endorsed and ratified" the crimes.

State of play: Jeffries remains free on the $10 million bond posted at his first court appearance, NBC News reported. He has to surrender his passport and stay in Florida, New York City or Long Island.

Jacobson's bond was set at $500,000. He was ordered not to leave Wisconsin, per NBC.

What's next: Jeffries is due back in court on Dec. 12, CNN reported.

U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York Steven Tiscione on Friday ordered the men not to contact any potential witnesses or victims, per the Washington Post.
The men could face at least 15 years in prison on sex trafficking charges and 20 years on interstate prostitution charges, per the Post.

Go deeper: Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO arrested in sex trafficking investigation

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Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO pleads not guilty to sex trafficking, prostitution charges

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