Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries charged

Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been criminally charged with sex trafficking and prostitution.

The 16-count indictment was announced by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, following a decade-long investigation sparked by a BBC probe and a proposed class action lawsuit.

The charges include one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution related to 15 unnamed victims between 2008 and 2015. 

If convicted, Jeffries, 80, his partner Matthew Smith, 61, and associate James Jacobson, 71, face potential life sentences.

Prosecutors allege that Jeffries and Smith used their influence to lure young people with the promise of modeling opportunities, only to sexually exploit them in locations including Manhattan, the Hamptons, and international hotels. 

The indictment details a scheme involving coercive tactics, including non-disclosure agreements and the use of substances during encounters.

Jeffries and Jacobson were released on bail, while Smith was ordered detained due to flight risk. 

A spokesperson emphasised that the investigation found no evidence of misconduct on Abercrombie's property. The company stated it was "shocked and appalled" by the allegations against Jeffries.