Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries has sought a court hearing to evaluate his mental fitness to stand trial for federal sex trafficking accusations in New York.
During a recent court session in federal court on Long Island, Jeffries’ attorney submitted a motion requesting a competency evaluation.
The prosecution, led by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, noted that there was no mention of the reasons behind Jeffries’ request in court.
Brian Bieber, Jeffries’ lawyer, chose not to provide comments after the hearing, explaining in an email that the matter will be addressed in court when deemed necessary by the judge.
U.S. District Judge Nusrat Choudhury has instructed Jeffries’ legal team to submit additional details to the court by December 24, including information on what aspects of their motion may be kept confidential.
The judge set a deadline of February 6 for the team to present a doctor’s report assessing Jeffries’ mental competency, with prosecutors required to submit their own report by April 8.
As of now, no date has been established for the competency hearing, and Jeffries is scheduled to return to federal court in Central Islip on March 13.
U.S. law permits judges to conduct a competency hearing if there is sufficient reason to suspect that a defendant’s mental state impairs their comprehension of court proceedings or hinders their ability to engage effectively in their defense.
In October, Jeffries, along with his romantic partner and a third individual, was apprehended for allegedly enticing men into participating in sex parties under the guise of modeling opportunities for the once-celebrated clothing brand, known for its preppy image and male models.
Jeffries, now 80, entered a not guilty plea in October and was released on a $10 million bond. His partner, 61-year-old Matthew Smith, also pleaded not guilty last week and was similarly granted bond release under strict conditions, including house arrest and GPS tracking.
Furthermore, the couple is restricted to $125,000 in monthly withdrawals from a trust created for their benefit, and Smith, who holds dual American and British citizenship, must surrender his passport.
The third individual, 71-year-old James Jacobson, was employed by Jeffries and allegedly recruited participants for the sex parties. He has also pleaded not guilty and is free on a $500,000 bond.
Jeffries held the CEO position at Abercrombie from 1992 until 2014, guiding the brand’s transformation from its origins as an outdoor goods shop established in Manhattan in 1892 to its prominent status in teen mall culture during the early 2000s.
