Former Abercrombie CEO mentally fit for sex-trafficking trial, judge rules

A federal judge has determined that Michael Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, is mentally fit to stand trial for sex-trafficking charges. Jeffries, 82, had been hospitalized for several months to address symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

US district court judge Nusrat Choudhury stated in her ruling that Jeffries possesses a "rational and factual understanding of the proceedings" and is a "reasonably intelligent person and skilled communicator." The judge based her decision on testimony from medical experts and her review of hours of phone calls Jeffries made while in custody.

Jeffries' legal team had argued that his cognitive issues, stemming from Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, and a traumatic brain injury, rendered him unable to stand trial. They presented medical experts who testified that his condition was progressive and incurable.

Following Choudhury's order for hospitalization, Jeffries spent approximately four months at a federal prison hospital in Butner, North Carolina. In December, federal prison officials determined he was mentally fit to proceed with legal proceedings. His trial is scheduled for late October, alongside co-defendants Matthew Smith and James Jacobson.

Prosecutors allege that Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson used the promise of modeling jobs to lure men into drug-fueled sex parties across New York City and other locations. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to federal charges, which include sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Jeffries departed Abercrombie & Fitch in 2014 after more than two decades, during which he was credited with transforming the brand into a prominent part of teen mall culture.