The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, has been deemed mentally incompetent to face charges associated with an alleged international sex trafficking scheme, as stated in a court document released on Thursday.
In October, an 80-year-old individual was taken into custody and faced charges related to arranging events where men allegedly performed forced sexual activities. These gatherings also involved payment for participation as well as drug use among those present.
The recently disclosed legal papers reveal that Jeffries' lawyer, Brian Bieber, has stated several medical assessments conducted over the past few months indicate Jeffries is grappling with serious dementia, encompassing Alzheimer’s disease along with various other mental incapacities.
The news about the court submission was initially reported by the Wall Street Journal.
According to a psychiatrist retained by the defense, Jeffries' condition has worsened to such an extent that he currently needs round-the-clock supervision and care.
A specialist presented by the prosecution came to a comparable conclusion, asserting that Jeffries' state is highly likely to worsen even more.
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Given these findings, Jeffries' attorneys have requested that the court order his commitment to a medical facility for a duration of four months to evaluate if he might potentially become capable of participating in legal processes.
The prosecutors have not objected to the motion.
A representative from the U.S. Attorney's office in the Eastern District of New York chose not to comment on this issue.
Jeffries, who led Abercrombie from 1992 up till his exit in 2014, faced federal indictments during the previous autumn for alleged crimes including sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
The indictment claims that Jeffries, along with his partner Matthew Smith and associate James Jacobson, masterminded an international sex trafficking scheme from 2008 to 2015.
The trio is alleged to have enticed young men by offering them chances at modeling jobs, tricked them into participating in sexual gatherings under deceptive circumstances, and forced them into experiencing unwanted sexual activities.
The alleged victims were administered drugs, coerced into signing non-disclosure agreements, and had their personal possessions taken away during those incidents.
The supposed events occurred in places such as New York City, the Hamptons, and several global locations.
The trio of men have all entered pleas of not guilty.
Brad Edwards, the lawyer advocating for the plaintiffs in a civil suit against Jeffries, stated that his clients intend to proceed with their case regardless of the judicial decision.
"We hope he undergoes rehabilitation and receives the punishment he merits," Edwards stated to the Journal.
Nevertheless, he cannot and will not escape responsibility in our civil class action lawsuit.
The criminal charges are accompanied by troubling accusations presented in a distinct civil lawsuit, the specifics of which were initially disclosed by The Post earlier this month.
In this situation, two up-and-coming male models initiated legal action at the Manhattan Supreme Court. They alleged that they had been assured lucrative positions with Abercrombie but instead fell victim to being drugged, assaulted, and exploited by Jeffries and those around him.
Two individuals, who wish to remain anonymous, claim that they were forced to remove all their body hair and underwent uncomfortable penile injections aimed at extending erections as part of the reported mistreatment.
As stated in the civil lawsuit, Jeffrey’s representative, James Jacobson, enlisted several men between 2010 and 2011. He lured them into confidential gatherings by falsely promising they would be considered for potential modeling roles.
It was reported that one of the individuals involved was a teenager at the time.
It is claimed that both individuals were sexually assaulted by Jacobson prior to their involvement in the broader conspiracy.
It is alleged that the misconduct took place at various locations including those in Manhattan and the Hamptons, along with several international trips, as stated by their attorney, Robert Georges.
