A court has scheduled a competency hearing for former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, who is facing federal sex trafficking charges along with his partner. Legal documents reveal he has been diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Jeffries, 80, was arrested in October for allegedly running a sex trafficking operation from 2008-2015, leveraging his power to coerce aspiring male models into exploitative acts. He and his partner, Matthew Smith, have maintained their innocence while a neuropsychologist's evaluation has raised doubts about Jeffries' mental capacity to assist in his defense. The competency hearing is set for June 2025.
Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Faces Competency Hearing Amid Dementia Diagnosis
Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Faces Competency Hearing Amid Dementia Diagnosis
Mike Jeffries' legal team claims he suffers from dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's, raising questions about his trial fitness.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch chief Mike Jeffries diagnosed with dementia; competency hearing scheduled
The 80-year-old faces federal sex trafficking charges alongside his partner, raising serious legal and mental fitness questions.
Jeffries' legal woes deepen with claims of dementia affecting his ability to stand trial on sex trafficking charges filed against him and his partner, Matthew Smith. According to court filings, Jeffries has received a diagnosis of two types of dementia, including late-onset Alzheimer's, prompting questions about his competency to participate in upcoming legal proceedings. The former CEO, who led the retail brand for two decades before stepping down in 2014 with a substantial retirement package, was charged in a case alleging that he exploited aspiring male models through coercive tactics. As the 2025 competency hearing approaches, the legal team is advocating for a thorough evaluation of Jeffries' mental state, which is critical in determining his ability to rationally engage in his defense against serious allegations stemming from an extensive investigation by federal authorities.
Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO has dementia, lawyers sayGetty ImagesMike Jeffries was arrested earlier this year, along with his partner and their middleman, on sex trafficking charges.
The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) has dementia and late onset Alzheimer's disease, his legal team has said in a court document filed in New York. Lawyers for Mike Jeffries have requested a hearing to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The 80-year-old was arrested alongside his partner in October and charged with running an international sex trafficking and prostitution business. Both men have pleaded not guilty. A so-called competency hearing has been scheduled for June next year. Mr Jeffries, who ran US clothing brand A&F for two decades, is accused of running a sex trafficking and prostitution business from at least 2008-15. US prosecutors allege that he used his wealth, power and status "to traffic men for his own sexual pleasure," and for the pleasure of his British partner Matthew Smith, 61. They said the couple, alongside a middleman James Jacobson, 71, used force, fraud and coercion to make vulnerable, aspiring models engage in violent and exploitative sex acts. All three men have pleaded not guilty to the charges and been released on bond. The FBI began investigating last year after the BBC revealed claims Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith had sexually exploited men at events they hosted around the world. The BBC investigation, published in October 2023, found the pair were at the centre of a sophisticated operation involving a middleman scouting young men for sex. In the same month, Brian Bieber, Mr Jeffries' lawyer, said his client was examined several times by a neuropsychologist who later concluded diagnostic impressions that he was suffering from two types of dementia and probable late onset Alzheimer's disease. In the court filing, Mr Bieber added that during an initial meeting last year, the former fashion boss "did not even come close to resembling a master's degree-educated individual, who was just nine years earlier the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company." As a result, Mr Bieber questioned the ability of Mr Jeffries to "rationally assist" with the possible factual and legal defences to the allegations he was facing, according to the document. The filing comes after Mr Jeffries' legal team sought a competency hearing, which will now be held over two days on June 16 and 17, 2025. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York declined to comment. Mr Jeffries stepped down as CEO and chairman of A&F in 2014 and left with a $25m (£19.9m) retirement package. Alongside the criminal case, A&F, Mr Jeffries, and his partner have been defending a civil lawsuit accusing the retailer of having funded a sex trafficking operation. Earlier this month, Mr Jeffries sued A&F after it refused to pay his criminal defence costs, arguing the brand had agreed to indemnify him for all claims arising out of his position. 'I tried to say no repeatedly': More men accuse ex-Abercrombie boss over sex events Ex-Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty to sex trafficking charges Ex-Abercrombie boss's partner pleads not guilty to sex trafficking charges.
The 80-year-old faces federal sex trafficking charges alongside his partner, raising serious legal and mental fitness questions.
Jeffries' legal woes deepen with claims of dementia affecting his ability to stand trial on sex trafficking charges filed against him and his partner, Matthew Smith. According to court filings, Jeffries has received a diagnosis of two types of dementia, including late-onset Alzheimer's, prompting questions about his competency to participate in upcoming legal proceedings. The former CEO, who led the retail brand for two decades before stepping down in 2014 with a substantial retirement package, was charged in a case alleging that he exploited aspiring male models through coercive tactics. As the 2025 competency hearing approaches, the legal team is advocating for a thorough evaluation of Jeffries' mental state, which is critical in determining his ability to rationally engage in his defense against serious allegations stemming from an extensive investigation by federal authorities.
Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO has dementia, lawyers sayGetty ImagesMike Jeffries was arrested earlier this year, along with his partner and their middleman, on sex trafficking charges.
The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) has dementia and late onset Alzheimer's disease, his legal team has said in a court document filed in New York. Lawyers for Mike Jeffries have requested a hearing to determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The 80-year-old was arrested alongside his partner in October and charged with running an international sex trafficking and prostitution business. Both men have pleaded not guilty. A so-called competency hearing has been scheduled for June next year. Mr Jeffries, who ran US clothing brand A&F for two decades, is accused of running a sex trafficking and prostitution business from at least 2008-15. US prosecutors allege that he used his wealth, power and status "to traffic men for his own sexual pleasure," and for the pleasure of his British partner Matthew Smith, 61. They said the couple, alongside a middleman James Jacobson, 71, used force, fraud and coercion to make vulnerable, aspiring models engage in violent and exploitative sex acts. All three men have pleaded not guilty to the charges and been released on bond. The FBI began investigating last year after the BBC revealed claims Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith had sexually exploited men at events they hosted around the world. The BBC investigation, published in October 2023, found the pair were at the centre of a sophisticated operation involving a middleman scouting young men for sex. In the same month, Brian Bieber, Mr Jeffries' lawyer, said his client was examined several times by a neuropsychologist who later concluded diagnostic impressions that he was suffering from two types of dementia and probable late onset Alzheimer's disease. In the court filing, Mr Bieber added that during an initial meeting last year, the former fashion boss "did not even come close to resembling a master's degree-educated individual, who was just nine years earlier the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company." As a result, Mr Bieber questioned the ability of Mr Jeffries to "rationally assist" with the possible factual and legal defences to the allegations he was facing, according to the document. The filing comes after Mr Jeffries' legal team sought a competency hearing, which will now be held over two days on June 16 and 17, 2025. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York declined to comment. Mr Jeffries stepped down as CEO and chairman of A&F in 2014 and left with a $25m (£19.9m) retirement package. Alongside the criminal case, A&F, Mr Jeffries, and his partner have been defending a civil lawsuit accusing the retailer of having funded a sex trafficking operation. Earlier this month, Mr Jeffries sued A&F after it refused to pay his criminal defence costs, arguing the brand had agreed to indemnify him for all claims arising out of his position. 'I tried to say no repeatedly': More men accuse ex-Abercrombie boss over sex events Ex-Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty to sex trafficking charges Ex-Abercrombie boss's partner pleads not guilty to sex trafficking charges.
