Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, his romantic partner and a middle man preyed on and horrifically abused more than a dozen young aspiring male models as part of twisted sex-trafficking and prostitution ring, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Jeffries, 80, allegedly wielded his “power, wealth and his influence” to traffic scores of men for his own sexual pleasure for nearly a decade – often dangling the promise of modeling careers in their faces, according to the feds.
The disgraced fashion boss and his partner, Matthew Smith, 61, used a middle man, James Jacobson, 71, to recruit and lure their victims to sick sex parties across the world from 2008 to 2015, according to the indictment.
Jacobson — who was previously described by some accusers as missing his nose and covering the gap with snakeskin — “required that prospective candidates first participate in a sexual encounter or tryout, with’’ him, court papers say.
Smith then “approved” the candidates forwarded him by Jacobson, who also was known as “Jim Jake, “Mrs. Cook’’ and “Todd,” the documents claim.
Some of the victims had to suffer through “the insertion of large sex toys into the anus; and high-pressured enemas administered by inserting a hose into the anus” as part of the attacks, the papers say.
Victims, who were as young as 19, were often plied with drugs, lubricants and prescription-grade erection-inducing injections during the sickening events, too, court papers allege.
Jeffries and Smith “on more than one occasion … either directed others to or personally injected men in their penises with a prescription-grade erection-inducing substance for the purpose of causing the men to engage in sex acts in which they were otherwise physically incapable or unwilling,” the documents say.
“These injections were not medically indicated and frequently caused the men to suffer painful physical reactions that lasted for several hours. Jeffries and Smith employed their use to fulfill their own sexual desired by causing men to submit to them,” the filing states.
In some instances, Jeffries and his co-accused would allegedly force the victims to wear costumes or use sex toys, and would personally shave their genitals in the lead up to the so-called “sex events,” the feds 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,” US attorney Breon Peace said as he announced the charges.
“Sexually exploiting vulnerable human beings is a crime. And doing so by dangling dreams of a future in fashion and modeling is no different.
Prosecutors said the charges relate to 15 “John Does” but noted the probe “encompassed dozens and dozens of men.’’
All three men have been charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
Jeffries and Smith were arrested in Florida and were due to make an initial court appearance later Tuesday in West Palm Beach. Jacobson, meanwhile, was nabbed in Wisconsin and was due in court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
