Mike Jeffries, Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, Declared Dementia-Stricken Amid Sex Trafficking Charges

The ex-CEO battles allegations of federal sex trafficking while facing health challenges linked to dementia.

In a startling turn of events, Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F), has been diagnosed with dementia and possible late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, according to a recent court document submitted by his legal counsel in New York. His lawyers have requested a competency hearing to establish whether the 80-year-old is mentally fit to face trial on serious sex trafficking charges.

Jeffries, arrested in October alongside his partner Matthew Smith and a middleman James Jacobson, stands accused of operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution network. The trio has pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which span from 2008 to 2015, and claimed that they exploited vulnerable aspiring models by employing coercive and fraudulent tactics.

U.S. prosecutors contend that Jeffries wielded his significant wealth and influential status to "traffic men for his own sexual pleasure." The FBI launched an investigation following a report by the BBC that implicated Jeffries and Smith in the exploitation of young men at global events. The charges emphasize the exploitation inherent in such a network centered on coercion and manipulation.

Details emerging from the legal proceedings depict a troubling picture, as Jeffries’ attorney Brian Bieber mentioned that assessments by a neuropsychologist revealed the former executive exhibited signs of severe cognitive decline. The document suggests that Jeffries' difficulties in engaging in rational conversations give rise to concerns regarding his ability to prepare an adequate defense against the allegations.

The competency hearing, which is set for June 16-17, 2025, comes at a pivotal moment in Jeffries' life; he stepped down from A&F in 2014, leaving with a $25 million retirement package. Alongside navigating a criminal case, he is also embroiled in a civil lawsuit that seeks to hold him and A&F accountable for purportedly funding a sex trafficking operation.

Earlier this month, Jeffries initiated legal action against A&F after they declined to cover his legal fees related to the criminal accusations, claiming he was entitled to indemnification based on his previous role within the corporation. As the legal battles unfold, more allegations of misconduct are surfacing, with additional men sharing experiences tied to sex events organized by Jeffries and his associate.