US court rules ex-Abercrombie CEO unfit for trial
The former chief executive of fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch is "mentally incompetent" and currently unfit to stand trial on charges of sex trafficking and prostitution, a US court has ruled.
Mike Jeffries will now be held in custody and treated in hospital for an initial period of up to four months to determine if his condition is likely to improve enough for the case to proceed.
Mr Jeffries' legal team said last December he has dementia and late onset Alzheimer's disease.
He is accused of using his wealth, power and status to traffic and sexually abuse vulnerable men over years - alleged crimes that could carry a life-term jail sentence.
Judge Nusrat Choudhury agreed on Friday that the defendant was "suffering from a mental disease or defect", making him "unable to understand" court proceedings.
The ruling followed an assessment by two medical experts - one designated by Mr Jeffries' defence team, the other chosen by prosecutors.
Judge Choudhury said in a court order that Mr Jeffries would be treated in hospital for up to four months to see if he is likely to regain competency.
Once a follow-up assessment is complete, the defendant could either face trial or the court will weigh up next steps.
These could include dropping the criminal charges against him, or releasing him to home confinement.
Mr Jeffries was arrested and charged last October along with his British partner, Matthew Smith, 61, and their middleman, James Jacobson, 72. All three deny the allegations.
US prosecutors allege the men used force, fraud and coercion to make young men, many of whom were aspiring models, engage in violent and exploitative sex acts while Mr Jeffries was chief executive from at least 2008 until 2015.
The charges followed a 2023 BBC documentary and ongoing podcast series that revealed the three of them benefited from a sophisticated operation in which recruiters scouted young men for sex in cities including London, New York, Paris and Marrakesh.
The BBC has since revealed that more than 40 men, including Abercrombie & Fitch employees, have now come forward with civil allegations of sexual assault, drugging or rape - with claims dating back to 1992, the year Mr Jeffries started running the company.
Civil trial lawyers have told the BBC their clients are dismayed at the criminal court's decision that Mr Jeffries is unfit to stand trial.
"We've been speaking with our clients who are disappointed by the decision and still want justice," said Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson, representing 26 alleged victims.
Brian Bieber, Mr Jeffries' criminal defence lawyer, said his client had recently been evaluated by doctors who determined he had Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body disease, and the residual effects of a traumatic brain injury requiring around-the-clock care, which "will almost certainly worsen over time".
Dr Cheryl Paradis, the US prosecutor's medical expert, also independently assessed Mr Jeffries. According to court papers, she found he was unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to properly assist in his defence.
"His memory impairment almost certainly would cause him to be unable to accurately recall key events and details," Dr Paradis said, according to the court filings, "and severely limit his capacity to provide accurate and reliable information".
She added: "Additionally, his inappropriate behaviour, which is a symptom of his dementia, could further interfere with his ability to maintain proper courtroom demeanour. He may blurt out self-incriminating statements or engage in erratic behaviour, which would undermine his credibility."
The BBC understands that Mr Jacobson and Mr Smith could still face trial on the same sex-trafficking and prostitution charges.
Alongside criminal charges, Mr Jeffries and his partner Mr Smith have been defending multiple civil lawsuits accusing them of rape, sex trafficking and assault, which they "vehemently deny".
The civil lawsuits had been stayed - or legally put on pause - until the resolution of the criminal case, which takes precedence to protect Mr Jeffries' right against self-incrimination.
Lawsuit accuses Abercrombie & Fitch of funding sex-trafficking operation
While his criminal case remains uncertain, Mr Jeffries could still face a civil trial or reach a settlement over the allegations. If this was the case, the outcome could lead to compensation being awarded to alleged victims.
"Mike Jeffries attacked these men and ruined their lives at a point when they were at their most vulnerable and chasing their dreams," said civil case lawyer, Brad Edwards.
"He will still be held accountable by our lawsuit and his co-conspirators will still face the criminal justice system.
"For anyone affected still in fear about coming forward, you should be reassured that his power is now totally gone".
Abercrombie & Fitch is also being sued for negligence, with lawsuits claiming that it knowingly facilitated "heinous sexual crimes".
The company - which also owns the Hollister brand - has previously said it was "appalled and disgusted" by Mr Jeffries' alleged behaviour.
Abercombie & Fitch must pay for ex-CEO's criminal sex trafficking defence
How my investigation led to sex trafficking charges against ex-Abercrombie boss
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Commuters who appeal penalty fares risk criminal record
SCHEDULE FOR 6.30AM LIVE PRIORITY TAG Commuters who challenge train ticket inspectors now risk getting a criminal record, The Telegraph can reveal. Passengers who are handed penalty fares for making mistakes when buying their tickets can now be prosecuted as criminals if their appeals against those penalties are rejected. Rules have changed thanks to a judgment made by the Chief Magistrate earlier this year, the existence of which The Telegraph is revealing now. Penalty fares are given to train passengers who cannot produce a valid ticket when asked by an inspector. The rule change, likely to affect tens of millions of journeys per year, comes after the Office of Rail and Road warned train companies last week to stop punishing people who make 'seemingly unintentional or minor transgressions of fares and ticketing rules'. Public concern about fare-dodging has reached a high point after Robert Jenrick, the Conservative shadow justice secretary, was filmed challenging miscreants in London. Credit: X/@RobertJenrick Yet those who formally dispute an inspector's view of the notoriously complex web of British train ticketing rules could now find themselves with a criminal record if they stand up for what they believe is right. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said in a written ruling dated February 21, which has not previously been published: 'I rule that criminal prosecutions can be brought following a penalty fare appeal being dismissed…' The judge said he had been given 'an undertaking that all [Department for Transport Train Operating Companies] will follow the guidance given by the court'. Fines of up to £1,000 and, for repeat offenders, prison sentences of up to three months can result from a conviction for failing to produce a ticket or travelling with intent to avoid payment. A conviction under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 will appear on DBS background checks, potentially affecting someone's job prospects. Campaigners fear that Judge Goldspring's ruling has given train companies a green light to threaten honest but mistaken commuters with a criminal record as the price of challenging ticket inspectors. Christian Waters, 47, of Leeds, who was targeted for prosecution in 2022 after having his penalty fare appeal rejected, said: 'Why was this ruling not published, given it affects the protection that hundreds of thousands of passengers would assume they had from the regulations? Mr Waters, whose case was dropped after he realised that Government-owned rail company Northern had broken the rules by trying to haul him in front of a judge, said: 'I do feel like they are saying I got off on a technicality now. I still dispute that I did anything wrong; their machine was not working!' 'No one has any protection at all, a sham of an appeal system and then money [is] demanded backed up by criminal law,' he continued. Westminster magistrates' court's unpublicised ruling came about after another Government-owned train company, Southeastern, asked the court if a number of previous prosecutions it brought were lawful. The exact number was not revealed in the judgment. 'It is clearly irrational that a person who brought an unmeritorious appeal could not be prosecuted, whereas someone who did not appeal could be,' ruled Judge Goldspring. While an out-of-court appeals process exists for penalty fares, Parliament never intended for commuters to be criminalised when it created the scheme some 35 years ago. Introducing the 1988 law that created penalty fares, Tory peer Lord Marshall of Leeds told Parliament: 'If, however, a passenger on a train is not in possession of a ticket, he is not to be treated as a criminal under this Bill. He is simply asked to pay a penalty fare, which is a civil penalty and not a criminal one.' Today, Regulation 11(3) of the Railways (Penalty Fares) Regulations 2018 says that prosecution is only allowed where the penalty has been cancelled by the train company before the appeal panel has decided the outcome. Yet in his February 2025 ruling, Judge Goldspring said: 'The prosecutor obviously should not bring a prosecution if it is excluded,' but added: 'There is no obligation on the court to investigate whether the defendant has a defence.' Penalty fare appeals are decided on by a private company called Appeal Services, which is a contractor paid by train companies to decide penalty fare appeals. According to Appeal Services' website, in the last 28 days, its assessors rejected 80 per cent of first-stage appeals. Southeastern and the Department for Transport were contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Spokane County replaces aging aircraft with $3.4M helicopter upgrade
This story was originally published on The Spokane County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) unveiled its new $3.4 million Bell 505 helicopter at Felts Field Wednesday afternoon. The new helicopter will replace two 55-year-old aircraft that have been retired from the force after decades of service, according to the sheriff's office. Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis noted his admiration for the upgrade. 'Its advanced technology will improve our ability to combat rising auto thefts and conduct safer operations, including searches for missing children, Alzheimer's patie nts, and outdoor recreationists,' Ellis said, according to SCSD. The helicopter can reach a top speed of 125 knots per hour (kts) and a hover ceiling of 14,450 feet, according to BellFlight. SCSO fully equipped the helicopter with upgraded technology such as thermal imaging cameras and a live-stream video feed. The sheriff's office received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, a $200,000 state grant for the thermal imaging cameras, $1.6 million from Spokane County, and raised money from the sale of an older SCSO helicopter, according to The Spokesman-Review. 'It's unbelievable how clear of an image they can get if they wanted to do surveillance over somebody that was a really bad guy. They could fly over at 7,000 feet and read the license plate,' John Preston, retired LAPD officer, said, according to The Spokesman-Review.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Senator 'Fighting for His Life' After He Was Shot While Speaking to Supporters at a Park, Teen Arrested
A senator and presidential hopeful was shot multiple times during an event with supporters at a public park on June 7 Miguel Uribe Turbay was speaking with locals in the Fontibón neighborhood of Colombia when the incident took place 'He is fighting for his life," the politician's wife said in a statementA presidential hopeful was shot multiple times while speaking to supporters at a public park over the weekend. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a senator part of Colombia's center-right Centro Democrático party, was attacked on Saturday, June 7, while in the Fontibón neighborhood of the country's capital Bogotá. A 15-year-old, who was carrying a Glock-style pistol, has since been arrested, according to CNN and the BBC, both of which cited the local attorney general's office. Colombia's president Gustavo Petro said during a television appearance later that day that it wasn't clear if the teen was acting alone, per The New York Times. According to an update shared on X by Turbay's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, the senator was "fighting for his life" following the shooting. She thanked his supporters for their "solidarity" and "prayers" in a later statement on Sunday, June 8, writing that updates about his health would be shared by the hospital. 'He came out well from the surgery,' his wife later told reporters, per CNN, which cited the Agence France-Presse (AFP). 'He fought the first battle and fought it well. He is fighting for his life.' Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, the hospital where Turbay was admitted, announced in a statement on June 8 that the politician was treated with procedures on his head and his left thigh and remains in intensive care. The hospital called his condition "extremely serious." The BBC reported that Turbay was shot three times on June 7, including twice in the head. Turbay was speaking to supporters at the park over the weekend when loud bangs rang out. He fell to the ground after appearing to be shot from behind, according to widely shared footage from the scene. Later footage showed supporters assisting and carrying the presidential candidate, who appeared to be covered in blood, as he was placed near the hood of a white car. At least three other people were also shot at the park, including a 20-year-old man, a 36-year-old woman and a 15-year-old, the Secretaría de Salud de Bogotá said. Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said on June 8, per CNN, that Turbay has since entered 'the critical hours' of recovery following his own procedures. President Petro added during his broadcast on June 7 that "no resource should be spared" when tracking down those responsible for the shooting. "Not a single peso," he said, per the Times, adding that Turbay's security would be investigated for protocol failures. Eyewitness Victor Mosquera told reporters outside of the hospital that he was near the senator during the shooting and still had blood on his clothing while outside of the hospital, per the Times. 'Everyone was screaming and running,' he said, adding, "When I turned around, I saw Miguel lying next to me.' Pedro Sánchez, Colombia's defense minister, has since announced on X that a reward is being offered of up to 3 billion Colombian pesos — roughly $728,000 — for more information. Read the original article on People
