Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial on charges related to an alleged international sex-trafficking operation, according to a court filing made public on Thursday.
The 80-year-old was arrested in October and charged with organizing sex parties where male models were reportedly coerced into sexual acts, paid for sex and plied with drugs.
In the newly released legal documents, Jeffries’ attorney, Brian Bieber, revealed that multiple medical evaluations over recent months have concluded that Jeffries is suffering from severe dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments.
News of the court filing was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Jeffries’ condition has deteriorated to the point that he now requires constant supervision and care, according to one psychiatrist hired by the defense.
An expert put forth by the prosecution reached a similar conclusion — stating that Jeffries’ condition is almost certain to deteriorate further.
In light of these conclusions, Jeffries’ legal team has asked the court to hospitalize him for a period of four months to assess whether he may eventually be deemed competent to participate in legal proceedings.
Prosecutors have not opposed the motion.
A spokesperson for the US attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York declined to comment on the matter.
Jeffries, who ran Abercrombie from 1992 until his departure in 2014, was indicted this past fall on federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
The indictment alleges that Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and associate James Jacobson orchestrated an international sex-trafficking operation between 2008 and 2015.
The three are accused of luring young men with promises of modeling opportunities, coercing them into attending sex events under false pretenses and subjecting them to non-consensual sexual acts.
Victims were reportedly given drugs, forced to sign nondisclosure agreements and had their personal belongings confiscated during these events.
The alleged activities took place in locations including New York, the Hamptons, and various international destinations.
All three men have pleaded not guilty.
Brad Edwards, an attorney representing alleged victims in a civil lawsuit against Jeffries, said that his clients will move forward with their case irrespective of the court ruling.
“We hope he is rehabilitated and faces the penalty he deserves,” Edwards told the Journal.
“Regardless, he cannot and will not avoid liability in our civil class action lawsuit.”
The criminal charges come in tandem with disturbing allegations outlined in a separate civil suit, details of which were first reported by The Post last month.
In that case, two aspiring male models filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court claiming they were promised high-paying jobs with Abercrombie — only to be drugged, raped and trafficked by Jeffries and his circle.
The two men, whose identities are being withheld, allege that they were required to shave all body hair and endure painful penile injections intended to prolong erections during the alleged abuse.
According to the civil complaint, a Jeffries associate named James Jacobson recruited the men around 2010 and 2011 and coerced them into private meetings under the pretense of vetting them for modeling opportunities.
One of the men was reportedly a teenager at the time.
Both were allegedly sexually assaulted by Jacobson before being introduced into the larger scheme.
The abuse is said to have occurred at properties in Manhattan and the Hamptons as well as during international trips, according to their lawyer, Robert Georges.
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