Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO's Mental Health Under Scrutiny Amidst Sex Trafficking Charges

Mike Jeffries, the ex-CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's, raising questions about his mental competency to stand trial for federal sex trafficking charges. A competency hearing is scheduled for June 2025 as he and two others confront serious allegations of running a trafficking operation.

Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, has been diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's disease according to a recent court filing by his legal team in New York. The 80-year-old is currently facing federal sex trafficking charges and his lawyers are requesting a competency hearing to determine if he is mentally fit to proceed with the trial, which is set to begin in June 2025.

Jeffries was arrested in October alongside his partner, Matthew Smith, 61, and their middleman James Jacobson, 71, charged with orchestrating an international sex trafficking and prostitution ring that allegedly operated from 2008 to 2015. The trio has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors claim the defendants exploited their wealth and social status to coerce vulnerable men into engaging in sexual acts, using force and fraud to facilitate their operations.

According to a BBC investigation published in October 2023, allegations detailed how Jeffries and Smith recruited young men for sexual exploitation through high-profile events around the world. Following these revelations, the FBI launched an investigation into their activities.

Jeffries' attorney, Brian Bieber, noted that extensive examinations by a neuropsychologist have led to the conclusion that the former executive suffers from significant cognitive impairments. In court documents, Bieber expressed concerns over Jeffries's ability to "rationally assist" in developing a defense due to his cognitive condition.

The competency hearing will take place over two days in June 2025 and could influence the future of the case. If determined incompetent, the charges against Jeffries may be dropped if there is no reasonable expectation for competency restoration. Meanwhile, his co-defendants could still stand trial, although the prosecution's case would suffer without Jeffries's testimony.

In addition to the criminal proceedings, Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch are facing a civil lawsuit accusing the company of funding the alleged sex trafficking operations. Recently, Jeffries initiated a lawsuit against A&F for refusing to cover his defense costs, arguing contractual obligations were violated.

Legal expert Heather Cucolo pointed out the complexities surrounding how the justice system handles cases involving dementia, emphasizing that medical assessments will play a critical role in determining the path forward for Jeffries and the ongoing legal proceedings.