Ex Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty to sex trafficking

Mike Jeffries, the former longtime chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch, has pleaded not guilty to charges he ran an international sex trafficking scheme while leading the clothing retailer.

Mr Jeffries, 80, who led Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014, entered his plea to one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of prostitution before US Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione in Central Islip, New York, in that state's Suffolk County.

Brian Bieber, a lawyer for Mr Jeffries, entered the plea on his client's behalf.

Mr Jeffries wore a navy blue blazer and light gray shirt, with no tie, to his arraignment.

He will remain free on $10m (€9.2m) bond, but subjected to home confinement with GPS monitoring.

Mr Jeffries posted his home in Fishers Island, New York as collateral.

James Jacobson, an employee of Mr Jeffries, is also expected to enter a plea.

Mr Jeffries' partner Matthew Smith, a dual US-British citizen, was ordered detained and will plead later. Both face the same charges as Mr Jeffries.

Prosecutors said the alleged scheme ran from 2008 to 2015.

They said Mr Jacobson acted as a recruiter, paid men to have sex with him then chose who would be paid to travel to Manhattan, the Hamptons and several countries around the world to have sex with Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith.

Victims forced to perform sex acts against will - indictment

Victims were led to believe that their efforts could lead to modeling jobs, but the scheme's true purpose was to fulfill Mr Jeffries' and Mr Smith's sexual desires without tarnishing Mr Jeffries' reputation, prosecutors said.

According to the indictment, victims were forced to consume alcohol, Viagra and muscle relaxants; use sex toys; and perform sex acts against their will. They were also required to sign nondisclosure agreements, the indictment said.

Dozens of men were victims, including 15 identified in the indictment, prosecutors said.

Each defendant faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of sex trafficking and up to 20 years in prison if convicted of interstate prostitution.

The charges echo accusations in a 2023 BBC investigation and private litigation on behalf of Mr Jeffries' accusers.

Abercrombie has also been sued, but has denied knowing about Mr Jeffries' alleged misconduct. The New Albany, Ohio-based company was not charged in the criminal case.

Mr Jeffries built Abercrombie into a popular clothing brand focused on teen shoppers, using splashy, sexually charged marketing that included ads with semi-nude models.

He resigned amid falling sales and criticism he was losing his touch in keeping up with customers' changing tastes.

In an online post, Abercrombie said it was "appalled and disgusted" by the accusations against Jeffries, and that it has since his departure "transformed our brands and culture into the values-driven organization we are today."