Michael Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial on sex trafficking charges, both federal prosecutors and his defense attorneys confirmed this week.
The 80-year-old, once known for shaping Abercrombie’s provocative brand image in the 2000s, has been diagnosed with advanced dementia, including both Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
In addition, doctors cited lasting effects from a past traumatic brain injury. Jeffries now requires 24/7 care, according to documents filed in federal court on Thursday.
Medical evaluations by at least four experts concluded that Jeffries’ condition is both progressive and irreversible. As a result, his lawyers say he is unable to understand the charges against him or assist in his own defense.
A joint request has been made to a federal judge in Central Islip, New York, asking for Jeffries to be placed in a federal medical facility for up to four months to explore possible treatment.
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Jeffries, who stepped down from Abercrombie in 2014 after more than 20 years at the helm, was charged last October with federal sex trafficking and interstate prostitution offences.
Authorities allege he and his long-time partner, Matthew Smith, along with a third man, James Jacobson, organized drug-fuelled sex parties, luring men with promises of modelling opportunities tied to the Abercrombie brand.
All three men have pleaded not guilty and are currently out on bail, with Jeffries released on a $10 million bail.
In the filed letter, Jeffries’ legal team argued that there is no realistic path for his condition to improve. “The progressive nature of his neurocognitive disorder ensures continued decline,” noted two forensic experts, Dr. Alexander Bardey and Dr. Cheryl Paradis, in their joint evaluation.
Jeffries’ once-powerful reign at Abercrombie helped define early-2000s fashion, but his legal troubles have cast a long shadow over his legacy. The court will now decide whether his condition truly prevents the case from moving forward.
