Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries arrested in sex-trafficking case

• Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has been arrested, a person familiar said.
• He and his partner will reportedly face charges of sex trafficking in a US federal court on Tuesday.
• A lawyer for Jeffries told BI that the ex-CEO would respond to the allegations in court.

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has been arrested on charges related to sex trafficking, a source with knowledge of the situation told Business Insider.

Jefferies was arrested with Matthew Smith, his partner, in Florida, The Wall Street Journal reported, as part of an investigation led by the Brooklyn US attorney’s office, and are expected to appear in federal court on Tuesday. A third man who allegedly facilitated the trafficking was arrested in Wisconsin, the Journal said.

“We will respond in detail to the allegations after the indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse — not the media,” Brian Bieber, Jeffries’ attorney, said in a statement to BI. BI’s request for comment from Jefferies was not immediately responded to, and BI could not immediately reach Smith or his attorney for comment. Abercrombie & Fitch declined to comment to BI.

A BBC investigation last year reported that Jefferies and Smith were involved in a network that found young men and recruited them for sex.

The Brooklyn US attorney’s office will hold a press conference later on Tuesday.