Ex-Abercrombie CEO arrested on sex trafficking charges

The erstwhile CEO of manner elephantine Abercrombie & Fitch and his British spouse person been arrested and are facing enactment trafficking charges, the BBC understands.

Mike Jeffries, his spouse Matthew Smith and the couple’s alleged middle-man were arrested connected Tuesday morning.

The FBI and prosecutor's bureau are expected to denote much details astatine a property league shortly.

Lawyers for Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith person been approached for comment. They person antecedently "vehemently denied" immoderate wrongdoing by some men.

The FBI opened an probe past twelvemonth aft the BBC revealed claims that Mike Jeffries and his spouse sexually exploited and abused men astatine events they hosted successful their New York residences and hotels astir the world.

A BBC investigation recovered determination was blase cognition involving a middleman and web of recruiters tasked with recruiting men for the events.

Confirming the arrest, Brad Edwards of steadfast Edwards Henderson, a civilian lawyer representing immoderate of the alleged victims, said: "These arrests are a immense archetypal measurement towards obtaining justness for the galore victims who were exploited and abused done this sex-trafficking strategy that operated for galore years nether the morganatic screen Abercrombie provided.

"The unprecedented reporting of the BBC, coupled with the suit our steadfast filed detailing the operation, are to recognition for these monumental arrests. This was the effect of awesome investigative journalism."