Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch chief fit to stand trial in sex trafficking case, judge says

What the report says

Former Abercrombie & Fitch chief executive Mike Jeffries has been ruled competent to stand trial in a federal sex trafficking and prostitution case, according to BBC World News. The decision reverses an earlier finding that had declared him mentally incompetent and cited dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Judge Nusrat Choudhury said her ruling was based on medical records and more than 21 hours of audio from 109 phone calls, which she said showed Jeffries could follow proceedings and understand the charges against him. The judge also said the recordings were especially useful in assessing his ability to engage in conversation and absorb new information.

Jeffries, who is 81, faces more than a dozen charges tied to alleged sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. His trial is set to begin on 26 October in federal court. The judge said some accommodations will be made because of his age and cognitive impairments, including shorter court hours and regular breaks, but emphasized that he remains fit to proceed.

BBC World News reported that Jeffries, along with his partner Matthew Smith and alleged middleman James Jacobson, was charged in October 2024 over an alleged global sex trafficking and prostitution operation. All three have pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Jeffries could face a life sentence. The case follows BBC reporting and a podcast investigation that helped bring attention to the allegations.