The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, was taken into custody early Tuesday after being accused of running a sex-trafficking operation.
Jeffries was arrested along with two of his alleged associates, Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York confirmed to HuffPost.
The charges follow allegations that Jeffries and his British partner, Smith, sexually exploited and abused men with the promise of jobs with the clothing company, as previously reported by the BBC.
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Prosecutors were expected to release more information later in the day.
Attorney Brian Bieber, who was previously representing Jeffries in the allegations, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An attorney representing the plaintiffs in the case hailed the arrests in a statement to HuffPost.
“Today’s arrests are monumental for the aspiring male models who were victimized by these individuals,” attorney Brittany Henderson said. “Their fight for justice does not end here. We look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.”
Jeffries retired from the fashion company in 2014.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Read More: Ex-Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries Arrested In Sex-Trafficking Case
