Abercrombie & Fitch CEO has dementia, claim lawyers amid sex trafficking charges

Attorneys representing longtime Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries in his sex trafficking and prostitution case have claimed he has dementia and will need to undergo a competency hearing to determine whether he can face the vile charges.

The lawyers wrote in court documents on Monday that the 80-year-old was examined by a neuropsychologist in October, who concluded that he likely has dementia with behavioral disturbance, Alzheimers disease and Lewy body dementia.

They claimed the neuropsychologist concluded that Jeffries exhibited cognitive impairments including impaired memory, diminished attention, processing speed slowness and ease of confusion.

Jeffries does not even come close to resembling a Masters degree-educated individual who was just nine years earlier the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company, attorney Brian Bieber argued, according to Bloomberg.

He went on to question whether Jeffries could rationally assist - on a sustained and consistent basis his attorneys in connection with the possible factual and legal defenses to the allegations he was facing.

Defense attorneys and prosecutors have now agreed to let the expert who examined Jeffries testify at a two-day competency hearing in June.

In the meantime, Jeffries remains free on a $10million bond after he pleaded not guilty to accusations that he sexually abused 15 young male models between 2008 and 2015.

Prosecutors have claimed he, his partner Matthew Smith and alleged fixer James Jacobson lured the men to drug-fueled sex parties in the Hamptons by promising them they would model for the retailers ads.

Attorneys representing longtime Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, 80, (center) in his sex trafficking and prostitution case have claimed he has dementia and will need to undergo a competency hearing to determine whether he can face the vile charges

Prosecutors have claimed he, his partner Matthew Smith (right)  and alleged fixer James Jacobson (left) lured the men to drug-fueled sex parties in the Hamptons by promising them they would model for the retailers ads

They claim Jacobson traveled across the US and abroad to recruit and interview men for the sex parties, using the nicknames Jim Jake, Mrs. Cook and Todd.

Jacobson would then allegedly conduct tryouts with potential candidates by paying them for sex with him. At the direction of Smith, Jacobson is also accused of paying fees to individuals who referred men for the sex parties in the Hamptons.

The alleged victims have said they believed attending the sex parties could provide them with model opportunities with Abercrombie and that their careers could suffer if they did not comply.

The victims were financially vulnerable, prosecutors argued, according to NBC News, with the youngest being just 19 years old. 

The sex parties incorporated Abercrombie products, with victims being given itineraries for it that did not mention commercial sex and resembled those often sent to models for photo shoots. 

Staff members controlled the entry and exit to the parties, and required the victims to surrender their wallets, cellphones and sign non-disclosure agreements, according to the criminal indictment.

But prosecutors say the aspiring models were never told the full extent and nature of the sexual activity that would be required - which allegedly included anal intercourse, the insertion of large sex toys into the anus, and high-pressured enemas administered by inserting a hose into the anus.

Jeffries reign at Abercrombie & Fitch was dominated by its controversial brand image and the equally controversial remarks he made about his customer base

They claim staff members provided the men with muscle relaxants known as poppers, as well as lubricant, Viagra and condoms. 

At times, Smith and Jeffries also allegedly injected in in their penises with a prescription-grade erection-inducing substance that caused painful, hours-long reactions to get them to engage in sex acts in which they were otherwise incapable or unwilling.

The victims were also allegedly paid to travel to places including New York City, England, France, Italy, Morocco and Saint Barthelemy to have sex with Jeffries, Smith and others. 

When witnesses threatened to expose what was going on, Jeffries and Smith used a security company to surveil and intimidate them into silence, prosecutors said.

A court filing says Jeffries does not even come close to resembling a Masters degree-educated individual who was just nine years earlier the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company

When Jeffries appeared in court in October to plead not guilty to one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution, he acted at times like he was hard of hearing

When Jeffries appeared in court in October to plead not guilty to one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution, he acted at times like he was hard of hearing.

He could be seen speaking often with his attorneys when the judge asked him certain questions. 

Nevertheless, he seemed very alert. He looked at the victims several times but never even glanced at Jacobson, who was behind him.

The former CEO then appeared expressionless as he followed his family members and his attorney out of the courtroom as Jacobsons proceeding was getting started.

He had served as CEO of Abercrombie - famed for its homoerotic advertising - between 1992 and 2014. 

But his reputation eventually fell apart thanks to Netflixs White Hot documentary, which laid bare abuse Abercrombie workers and models say they suffered.