The former head of Abercrombie & Fitch is reflecting a lifestyle similar to what Diddy is purported to have led, at least according to federal authorities who have now obtained an indictment against Michael Jeffries for notably alike offenses.
A grand jury has charged Jeffries, who served as Abercrombie’s CEO from 1992 to 2014, with 15 offenses related to interstate prostitution and one count of sex trafficking. The indictment encompasses Jeffries’ partner Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, who are allegedly involved in recruiting men for “Sex Events” and coercing them into sexual performances in what they called “tryouts.”
As per the prosecutors from the Eastern District of NY, Jeffries and his associates allegedly took full advantage of their positions at Abercrombie, operating a “business devoted to satisfying their sexual preferences and maintaining the secrecy of their international sex trafficking and prostitution operation.”
Federal authorities state that the accused participated in a quid pro quo system from 2008 to 2015, persuading men to assume they could land modeling opportunities with Abercrombie if they took part in the “Sex Events” – which bear a striking resemblance to the “Freak Offs” mentioned in Diddy’s accusations.
In court documents, prosecutors detail that the events included large sexual devices, intense enemas, and the shaving of male genitals, with participants encouraged to consume alcohol, as well as take Viagra and muscle relaxants typically referred to as “poppers.”
Authorities also assert that they deliberately recruited heterosexual men, compelling them to partake in specific sexual activities, even against their consent.
Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson were apprehended on Tuesday, with prosecutors noting that, like in Diddy’s situation, their investigation was initiated by civil lawsuits against Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch filed last year.
As laid out in this indictment, those lawsuits alleged that Jeffries exploited the company to entice young males into sexual gatherings by guaranteeing modeling positions. Reports indicate that Abercrombie has settled several of those lawsuits.
In the announcement of the charges on Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Pearce, stated, “For those who believe they can exploit and manipulate others under the guise of the casting couch, let this case be a cautionary tale: get ready to trade that couch for a cell in a federal prison.”