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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Tens of millions of people in urgent need of help won't be getting much assistance next year. That's according to the United Nations which launched a $23 billion aid appeal on Monday (8 December) which is half of last year's request, acknowledging a plunge in donor funding.
Emergency crews were deployed to the northeastern Ukrainian city of Okhtyrka on Monday morning after a residential high-rise was devastated by a Russian drone barrage, leaving several civilians wounded as the conflict approaches the end of its fourth year.
Following a high-level meeting of the Communist Party leadership on Monday, state media confirmed that China will seek to insulate its economy from external volatility by turning inward, pledging to "keep expanding domestic demand" through a suite of "more proactive" policies.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 8th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A coup attempt by a “small group of soldiers” has been foiled in Benin after hours of gunfire struck parts of the economic capital Cotonou, officials said on Sunday.
A delayed local vote in the rural Honduran town of San Antonio de Flores has become a pivotal moment in the country’s tightest presidential contest, with both campaigns watching its results as counting stretches into a second week.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
Lava fountains shot from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano from dawn to dusk on Saturday, with new footage showing intensifying activity at the north vent.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points after a tense season finale.
Netflix’s plan to buy Warner Bros marks a rare moment in Hollywood where scale, risk and ambition collide. The agreement, announced on 5 December, puts a price of roughly 82.7 billion dollars on one of the film industry's most influential studios.
American talk show host Oprah Winfrey has praised Australia's decision to ban social media for under-16s from next week, saying the move would help young people socialise more.
In a small town on the outskirts of Warsaw, lumps of glass are transformed into dazzling holiday decorations, as Silverado, a family-owned factory in Jozefow, polishes the tradition of mouth-blown Christmas ornaments, captivating buyers across the globe and spreading festive cheer.
Israel’s participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be discussed on Thursday (4 December), as the organising body, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) meet in Geneva to consider whether the country can compete amid threats from some nations to withdraw over the ongoing Gaza war.
The Louvre Museum in Paris on Tuesday unveiled renovated galleries showcasing 17th and 18th-century Italian and Spanish paintings and opened its new Gallery of the Five Continents.
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