A federal judge has ruled that Michael Jeffries, the former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch, is mentally fit to stand trial on charges involving an extensive international sex trafficking operation. In a detailed 157 page decision, U.S. District Judge Nusrat Choudhury determined that the 82 year old former fashion mogul possesses a rational understanding of the legal proceedings against him and remains capable of collaborating with his defense team. The ruling clears the way for a jury trial scheduled to begin this October on Long Island.
The decision comes after Jeffries’ attorneys attempted to block the trial by arguing that he suffers from dementia and late onset Alzheimer’s disease. To resolve the dispute, Judge Choudhury ordered Jeffries to be hospitalized for evaluation at a federal medical center. However, the judge found evidence that contradicted these claims, specifically pointing to more than one hundred phone calls Jeffries made during his stay. According to the court documents, those conversations revealed a man who was fluent and able to recall complex information over long periods of time, especially when discussing matters of personal importance.
During some of those monitored calls, Jeffries expressed anxiety regarding the potential fallout of a conviction, worrying that a guilty verdict would result in the loss of his fortune. He described a possible conviction as a total disaster in terms of time and money. While the judge maintained that he is competent, she did grant some accommodations for his age and health, limiting daily trial proceedings to afternoon sessions and giving him mornings to review transcripts with his counsel. His lawyer, Brian Bieber, declined further comment beyond stating that all related issues should be handled in court rather than through the media.
The gravity of the charges stems from allegations that between 2008 and 2015, Jeffries used his immense wealth and corporate influence to run a global prostitution ring alongside his partner Matthew Smith and recruiter James Jacobson. Prosecutors allege they lured financially vulnerable men into drug fueled sex events across cities like New York and London by promising them modeling contracts or career advancement within the competitive fashion industry. Some victims were reportedly employees or models for Abercrombie & Fitch who feared their careers would be destroyed if they refused sexual demands. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to one count of sex trafficking and fifteen counts of interstate prostitution.