A&F ‘sexploit’ probe
Ex-CEO eyed for ‘preying on young male models’
The FBI reportedly opened a criminal investigation into Abercrombie & Fitch’s disgraced ex-CEO Mike Jeffries after he was accused of orchestrating elaborate sex events to exploit and sexually abuse young male models.
The probe is being led by FBI agents specializing in sex crimes and Brooklyn federal prosecutors, according to the BBC, whose bombshell investigation first made Jeffries’ “well-oiled machine” to allegedly “recruit” young men for sex events public.
Interviews are underway, and potential witnesses have been subpoenaed, the BBC reported.
The FBI and US Attorney’s Office declined to comment.
In October, eight men detailed allegations of an exploitative regime led by Jeffries to the BBC, which featured Jeffries and his British lover, Matthew Smith, luring them to Jeffries’ upscale New York residences or luxury hotels around the world between 1992 and 2014.
“Recruiters” — a type of middleman alleged victims claimed misled them about the nature of Jeffries and Smith’s events — received as much as $1,000 per referral, the BBC said.
The BBC said one middleman, Jim Jacobson, was described by modeling agents as the gatekeeper to “the owners” of A&F during the teen retailer’s heyday in the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Alleged victim David Bradberry told the BBC he was introduced to the A&F boss by Jacobson back in 2010, when he was 23.
“Jim made it clear to me that unless I let him perform oral sex on me, that I would not be meeting with A&F or Mike Jeffries,” Bradberry told the BBC.
A personal “groomer” allegedly shaved the body hair off some men before events. Afterwards, victims were given envelopes with anywhere from $500 to thousands of dollars in cash, the BBC reported.
The men Jeffries allegedly abused were required to sign nondisclosure agreements, the BBC said.
Jeffries’ lawyer, Brian Bieber, did not respond to a request for comment, though he has said that “Mr. Jeffries will not comment in the press on this new lawsuit as he has likewise chosen not to regarding lawsuits in the past.”