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Attorneys for former Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries said he is unable to stand trial in a federal sex trafficking case because he has dementia.
Jeffries, 80, was CEO of the Columbus-based Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014. He and Matthew Smith, 61, of West Palm Beach – his romantic partner – and James Jacobson, 71, of Wisconsin, were indicted in October on federal sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges.
The case is filed in the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York before District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury.
The men transported young, aspiring male models to events in New York and around the world, according to federal prosecutors. The aspiring models believed the events would further their careers, but they were coerced into having sex with Jeffries and Smith, the indictment says.
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In Thursday’s court filing, two New York-based forensic psychologists, Alexander S. Bardey and Cheryl Paradis, said Jeffries has Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia and is suffering from residual effects of a traumatic brain injury.
Pardis said Jeffries’ conditions make him unable to recall key events, and he can’t understand the charges against him or the legal consequences, so he can’t participate in his legal defense, according to the records. Pardis suggested in his filing that Jeffries might blurt out inappropriate or self-incriminating statements at trial or behave erratically, which could undermine his credibility and prejudice the jury against him.
The doctors conducted forensic psychiatric and neuropsychological evaluations on Jefferies. They said numerous neuroimaging studies over the past several years have been consistent with the dementia diagnoses.
Because Jeffries’ condition is degenerative, the doctors expect these symptoms to worsen over time and not respond to treatment. That means Jeffries will likely never be able to stand trial, his attorneys said in the filing.
His attorneys are asking the court to place Jeffries in state custody and hospitalize him for treatment for four months and evaluated to see if his condition improves.
The three defendants each face one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution.
The men transported 15 young, aspiring male models to events in New York and around the world, prosecutors said. The aspiring models believed the events would further their careers, but they were coerced into having sex with Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson, according to the indictment.
The three defendants intentionally recruited young heterosexual men and tricked them into meeting with Jeffries and Smith for supposed modeling opportunities before convincing them to hand over their phones, having them sign NDAs, and supplying them with drugs and alcohol, prosecutors said in the indictment.
Prosecutors said there’s no indication Jeffries used Abercrombie resources, and the events didn’t happen on company property. Abercrombie’s headquarters are in New Albany.
Jeffries has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was placed under house arrest at his Palm Beach apartment after posting $10 million in bail.
More: Mike Jeffries led Abercrombie’s meteoric rise. He also oversaw its downfall
Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Abercrombie CEO Michael Jeffries can’t stand trial for sex crimes: Filing
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