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“Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries charged with running a prostitution and international sex trafficking business in a combination of force, fraud and coercion to induce victims into participating in illegal operations.”
How many innocent lives have been crushed due to sick sexual fetishes and lust for fame and fortune?
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The alleged behavior occurred in New York City and in multiple countries world wide.
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“Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, his romantic partner and a third man were arrested on charges of luring men into sex parties held around the world, U.S. authorities said in a press conference on Tuesday. According to an indictment unsealed in a Brooklyn federal court, Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and their employee James Jacobson ran an international sex trafficking and prostitution business from 2008 to 2015. Using Jeffries’ status, wealth and a web of household staffers to fulfill the couple’s sexual desires and keep it all secret.
Powerful individuals for too long have trafficked and abused — for their own sexual pleasure — young people with few resources and a dream. A dream of securing a successful career in fashion or entertainment,” Brooklyn-based U.S. attorney Breon Peace said.
“To anyone who thinks they can exploit and coerce others by using the so-called casting couch system, this case should serve as a warning — prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison.” The charges follow sexual misconduct allegations, made in lawsuits and in the media, from young people who said Jeffries promised modelling work for the clothing retailer and then pressured them into sex acts. Jeffries and Smith were arrested in Florida, while Jacobson was arrested in Wisconsin.”
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Jeffries and Smith employed Jacobson as a recruiter to find men. Jacobson engaged in “try outs,” across the world where he would pay men to have sexual acts with him. Following the try outs with Jacobson, Smith would often personally approve whether the men who were selected would meet Jeffries and Smith.
The chosen would be flown to Jeffries and Smith’s homes in the Hamptons and in New York City or to hotels around the world, such as England, France, Italy, Morocco and Saint Barts for the purpose of attending events to engage in commercial sex.
Beyond simply hiring men for sex, Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson used force, fraud and coercion to traffick those men for their own sexual gratification.
It is alleged they employed a referral system and an interview process that did not inform the men of the details of the sex events before they attended, including the full extent and nature of the sexual activity that would be required of them at these events. They caused the men to believe that in attending these sex events, they may yield modeling contracts or otherwise benefit their careers. Smith and Jeffries employed a secret staff to operate these sex events. The staff made sure the men signed non-disclosure agreements and handed over their personal items such as their phones before the start of the events to maintain secrecy. The defendants caused the men to believe that not complying with certain sex acts during the events could harm their careers. The men were pressured to consume alcohol, viagra and muscle relaxants known as poppers during these sex events. They required the presence of staff during the sexual activities, making sure the men did not leave the event until Jeffries and Smith decided the sex sessions were over.
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“The defendants allegedly preyed on the hopes and dreams of their victims by exploiting, abusing and silencing them to fulfill their own desires with insidious secret intentions.”
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It’s also alleged Jeffries and Smith instructed men to inject an erection inducing substance for the purpose of causing the men to engage in sex acts that the men were incapable or unwilling to engage in. Additionally, when a man would not or could not consent, Jeffries and Smith violated the bodily integrity of these men, by continuing to subject them to invasive sexual and violent contact by body parts and other objects.
As alleged in the indictment, Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson, carried on with this activity, their sex enterprise and trafficking, from 2008 until 2015, with investigations still underway that could extend this period. During this time, the defendants hired dozens of men and transported them to New York and around the globe. They spent millions on a massive infrastructure to support this operation and maintain its secrecy. This included hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash for commercial sex, and prolific amounts of money for staff to run the sex events. Money for domestic and international travel, hotel rooms, services from a security company and Jacobson’s salary among other things.
This investigation remains ongoing. Although there are 15 John Does identified as victims in this indictment, this interstate prostitution ring encompasses dozens and dozens of men.
I encourage anyone with information about this case, including anyone who was a victim of the defendants alleged crimes to contact the FBI.
1 800 CALL FBI.
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I want to thank the victims who have already come forward for sharing their stories. Prosecutions are almost impossible with out the bravery of victims that report what happened to them to law enforcement.
This office, the department of justice and its law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to protect victims from powerful individuals who use their wealth to exploit and harm others for sexual gratification.“
~ Partial transcript from video below
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ForThePeople