Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges, including 15 counts of prostitution. He remains free on a $10 million bond, while the retailer expresses its "appalled" stance and faces a drop in shares.
Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of running an international sex trafficking scheme while leading the retailer.
Jeffries, 80, who held the position from 1992 to 2014, entered his plea to one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of prostitution before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione in Suffolk County, New York. He is free on a $10 million bond, secured by his Fishers Island home, but is under home confinement with GPS monitoring.
James Jacobson, an associate of Jeffries, also pleaded not guilty to the same charges and faces similar bail conditions. Jeffries' partner, Matthew Smith, has been ordered detained and will plead later to the same 16 charges.
Prosecutors allege the scheme ran from 2008 to 2015, claiming Jacobson recruited men under the pretense of modeling jobs to fulfill the sexual desires of Jeffries and Smith.
Victims reportedly faced coercion, including forced alcohol and drug consumption, and were made to sign nondisclosure agreements. Prosecutors identified 15 victims, with the defendants facing potential prison sentences of 15 years to life for sex trafficking and up to 20 years for interstate prostitution.
Jeffries and Jacobson's next court appearance is set for December 12.
Following the charges, Abercrombie stated it was "appalled and disgusted" by the accusations and emphasized its commitment to a values-driven organization since Jeffries' departure. Abercrombie's shares have dropped 11% since the charges were announced.
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Masked law enforcement officers have detained Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the 'Sacred Struggle' movement in Armenia. He is accused of preparing terrorist attacks and an alleged attempt to seize power, according to the Investigative Committee.
The United States is not planning to impose additional sanctions on Russia for now, aiming instead to keep diplomatic channels open to pursue a peace deal, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is now "much further away from a nuclear weapon" following recent U.S. airstrikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites, contradicting reports that the damage only caused minor delays.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has announced a major reform initiative aimed at strengthening national sovereignty in the country’s space sector.
An historic mission began early on Wednesday (25 June) as astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) for their countries’ first-ever visit. They were joined by NASA veteran Peggy Whitson.
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