Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, who has been charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution, has claimed through his attorneys that he is unfit to stand trial due to dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Mike Jeffries, who led Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014, allegedly used his wealth and power to orchestrate an international sex trafficking operation between 2008 and 2015.
Federal prosecutors claim that Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith, and a recruiter, James Jacobson, lured vulnerable young men into coercive and exploitative sex events, often under the guise of career advancement opportunities, CBS News reported.
The operation came to light following a 2023 BBC investigation, subsequent lawsuits, and criminal charges.
Jeffries, now 80, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains under home detention after posting a $10 million bond.
His defense team argues he is mentally incapable of assisting in his defense, citing evaluations diagnosing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed to a two-day competency hearing to assess his ability to stand trial.
If Jeffries is deemed competent, the case will proceed to trial, potentially implicating his co-defendants as well. Should he be found incompetent, the charges against him could be dropped.
Jeffries' competency hearing is scheduled for June 2025.
Originally published in Latin Times
