According to the indictment, Jeffries, Smith and an associate of theirs, James Jacobson, allegedly ran an international sex trafficking and prostitution ring from 2008 to 2015. The illegal trade allegedly involves paying for secret sex with possibly dozens of men, including 15 unnamed victims. with the complaint. Jeffries and Smith used their vast wealth and power to maintain the secrecy of the activities, authorities said. Jeffries was CEO of the expensive clothing brand from 1992 to 2014, when it achieved great popularity among teenagers and students. His activities were kept secret to protect his reputation as a powerful executive.

Jacobson, who also goes by the aliases “Jim Jake,” “Mrs. Cook” and “Todd,” the complaint said, acted as recruiters to identify potential victims. He is said to have been involved in ‘tryouts’ with people around the world, where he would pay them to perform sex acts. After the alleged auditions, Jacobson would decide whether men would be chosen to fly to toy locations around the world, including the Hamptons, England, France and Italy. The purpose of the lavish trips was for Jeffries and Smith to engage in commercial sex with them, the complaint alleges. Jacobson was also arrested, according to authorities.

In addition to hiring men for sexual purposes, Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson also allegedly used force, fraud and coercion to traffic their victims for their own sexual gratification, the indictment said. Fifteen victims are listed anonymously in the indictment, but “there may be more victims,” ​​James Dennehy, deputy director in charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, said at the news conference.

Those chosen by Jacobson did not know the details of the sex event in advance, which “led the men to believe that attending these sex events could lead to modeling opportunities at Abercrombie or otherwise benefit their careers,” Peace said. Secret personnel are said to have organized the events, and they, along with the recruits, signed non-disclosure agreements and handed over all their personal items – including their phones – before the events started.

During the alleged crimes, suspects were pressured to consume alcohol, Viagra and muscle relaxants, and were not allowed to leave without permission from Jeffries and Smith. The indictment also alleges that the duo directed staff to inject victims — or personally inject themselves — with an undisclosed erection-inducing substance.

“For too long, powerful individuals have trafficked and abused for their own sexual pleasure young people who had few resources and a dream – a dream of securing a successful career in fashion or entertainment,” Peace said during the press conference on Tuesday. “For anyone who thinks they can exploit and coerce others by using the so-called casting couch system, this case should serve as a warning: prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison.”

Brian Bieber, attorney for Jeffries, did not respond Fortune‘s request for comment on the indictment and allegations.

Mike Jeffries has long been a ‘PR nightmare’ for the brand

Jeffries infamously said that Abercrombie & Fitch was only for “cool” people. For more than a decade, the company’s glossy advertising focused on muscular young men, often naked from the waist down. Although the company performed well during the first half of his tenure, Jeffries was criticized for what he made of Abercrombie.

“We hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to target cool, good-looking people,” Jeffries said. Salon in 2013, shortly before he resigned in 2014, after sales fell below analyst forecasts and 11 consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales. Jeffries is technically still married to Susan Marie Isabel Hansen, but they lived apart for years.

Abercrombie declined to comment on Jeffries’ arrest, but in October 2023 BBC investigation, a spokesperson for the clothing brand said in a statement Fortune the company was “shocked and disgusted” by the alleged behavior.

“This arrest is a huge step toward justice for the many young men who were exploited and abused by Jeffries and Smith, who used Abercrombie to fuel one of the most organized sex trafficking operations in United States history” , said Brittany Henderson of Edwards Henderson Law Firm Fortune in a statement. Henderson represents the plaintiffs in the case.

“This case is yet another example of individuals using their wealth, power or reputation to manipulate and control others for their own personal interests,” Dennehy said at the press conference.