Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries Found Competent to Stand Trial on Sex-Trafficking Charges
Mike Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been found mentally competent to stand trial on sex-trafficking and prostitution charges after months of hospitalization. This follows an earlier ruling in May that declared him mentally incompetent due to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Prosecutors state that medical experts have concluded Jeffries is now able to understand the legal proceedings and assist in his defense. A final competency hearing has been scheduled for early 2026, with a possible trial date in October 2026.
Jeffries faces charges of running an international sex-trafficking and prostitution operation from at least 2008 to 2015, allegedly alongside his partner Matthew Smith and James Jacobson. All three defendants deny these accusations.
He was released in late November 2025 from FMC Butner, a federal prison in North Carolina designated for men with special health needs. The charges potentially carry a maximum life sentence. Prosecutors allege that the trio used money, influence, force, fraud, and coercion to exploit vulnerable men for sexual acts.
The arrests were prompted by a 2023 BBC documentary and an ongoing podcast investigation. More than 40 men have made civil allegations against Jeffries and Smith, accusing them of rape, sexual assault, or drugging; these claims have been denied by the accused.
In March, a court ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch must cover Jeffries' criminal defense costs under an indemnification agreement signed when he stepped down in 2014. However, in May, doctors described Jeffries' condition as Alzheimer's, Lewy Body disease, and traumatic brain injury, requiring around-the-clock care.
Abercrombie & Fitch stated it had no knowledge of the alleged misconduct, emphasized changes in leadership, a zero-tolerance policy on abuse, and noted the company has faced ongoing civil suits related to the case.
An alleged victim expressed to the FBI shock and relief at the determination that Jeffries is fit to stand trial, viewing it as a potential path to accountability.
