File: Mike Jeffries, CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch 2005.
Michael Loccisano | Film Magic | Getty Images
Former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries has been arrested in Florida and is facing sex trafficking-related charges by federal prosecutors in New York, NBC News reported Tuesday.
Jeffries’ associates Matthew Smith of West Palm Beach, Florida, and James Jacobson of Wisconsin were also charged in connection with the incident, according to NBC.
Abercrombie & Fitch declined CNBC’s request for comment.
News of the arrests came hours after federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York, were scheduled to hold a press conference to announce the arrests of a “former CEO of a major corporation” and two others in a “sex trafficking and interstate prostitution case.” flowed forward.
The criminal case comes a year after Abercrombie was accused of turning a blind eye to sexual misconduct by Jeffries.
In the case, he was accused of running a sex trafficking ring and exploiting young men who wanted to become models for his company.
“Today’s arrest is monumental for the aspiring male models victimized by these individuals,” Brittany Henderson, an attorney with Edwards Henderson LLP who is representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said in a statement to CNBC. It’s a thing,” he said.
“Their fight for justice does not end here. We will hold Abercrombie & Fitch accountable for facilitating this terrible act and ensure it never happens again,” Henderson said. I’m looking forward to doing that.”
This is breaking news. Please refresh to check for updates.
— CNBC’s Gabriel Fonrouge contributed reporting.
