The FBI is reportedly opening a criminal investigation into disgraced former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, who is accused of orchestrating elaborate sex events to exploit and sexually abuse young male models. It is reported that it has started.
The investigation is being led by FBI agents specializing in sex crimes and federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. According to the BBCwhose bombshell investigation first revealed to the public Jefferies' “well-oiled machine” of “recruiting” young men for sex events.
The BBC reports that interviews are already underway and potential witnesses have been summoned.
The newspaper has contacted the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice for comment.
In October, eight men detailed allegations of Jeffries' exploitative regime to the BBC, including the former head of Abercrombie & Fitch and his British lover Matthew Smith, who visited Jeffries's luxury New York mansion and the world's fashion elite. He reportedly lured her to a hotel. Capital from 1992 to 2014.
A type of intermediary who victims claim misled them about the nature of Jeffries and Smith's events, the BBC reported, received as much as $1,000 for each referral.
The BBC identified the intermediary as Jim Jacobson, whom model agents described as a gatekeeper for A&F's “owners” during the teen retailer's heyday in the late 90s and early 2000s.
The alleged victim, David Bradbury, told the BBC that Mr Jacobson introduced him to his A&F boss in 2010 when he was 23 years old.
“Jim made it clear that he would not meet A&F or Mike Jeffries unless he performed oral sex on me,” Bradbury told the BBC.
A dedicated “groomer” then allegedly shaved some of the men's body hair before attending the event.
The victims were then given envelopes containing cash ranging from $500 to several thousand dollars before leaving the event, according to the BBC.
The men Jeffries allegedly abused were then asked to sign non-disclosure agreements that promised legal action if they spoke out. According to the BBC, they were not allowed to keep copies of legal documents.
Less than a month after the BBC's findings were made public, Bradbury filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court accusing A&F of allowing Jefferies.
Mr. Bradbury names Mr. Jeffries, 79, and Mr. Smith, 60, of his family office, as co-defendants, and is seeking unspecified damages.
Jeffries' attorney, Brian Beaver, did not immediately respond to the Post's request for comment, but said, “This is what Mr. Jeffries says about Mr. Jeffries.” Mr. Jeffries will not comment in the press on this new lawsuit, as he has similarly chosen not to comment on his past lawsuits. ”
Jeffries and his long-time partner have not directly addressed the accusations against them, but when the BBC investigation began, A&F told the Post it was “appalled and disgusted by the conduct reported.” “There is,” he said.
Jeffries abruptly resigned from A&F in 2014 after 22 years at the helm.
His departure comes after eight consecutive quarters of declining sales and controversy, with Jeffries publicly supporting what he called “cool, good-looking people” at A&F and criticizing “fat people.” It appears that his refusal to do so led to controversy.
Jeffries reportedly walked away with at least $27 million in cash and severance.
Mr. Smith was never employed by A&F, but in 2013 buzzfeed news The report cited six current and former employees at the time, alleging that Mr. Smith had access to sensitive company documents and frequently traveled to the office, where he enforced Jefferies policies and micromanaged staff. I explained in detail what I was doing.
Since getting rid of the toxic duo, A&F has embraced diversity in its model and size options, eliminating the shirtless male models that greeted customers outside its stores.
Jeffries, on the other hand, has lived most of his life out of the public eye since leaving A&F.According to an online magazine What you need to knowAccording to unconfirmed reports, Jeffries and Smith currently live in Ohio with their three dogs.
