Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Michael Jeffries, has been deemed incompetent to stand trial on sex trafficking charges due to his dementia. Jeffries, 80, requires round-the-clock care for Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and a traumatic brain injury. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are seeking placement in federal custody for Jeffries to receive treatment to potentially allow his case to proceed. He has been out on a $10 million bond after pleading not guilty in October to federal sex trafficking charges. Jeffries, along with his partner and a third man, is accused of luring men to drug-fueled sex parties with the promise of modeling for Abercrombie ads. Medical professionals have concluded that Jeffries’ cognitive issues are progressive and incurable, impairing his ability to understand the charges against him. Jeffries’ defense team believes he will not regain competency and cannot be restored in the future. His former partner, Matthew Smith, and co-defendant, James Jacobson, have also pleaded not guilty and remain out on bond. Jeffries left Abercrombie & Fitch in 2014 after over two decades as CEO. Despite declining competency, his legacy as a teen mall culture figure in the early 2000s remains intact. Press inquiries to Jeffries’ lawyers and the U.S. attorney’s office were not immediately returned.
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