In Central Islip, New York, the defense team for the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Michael Jeffries, has raised concerns about his mental fitness to stand trial on sex-related charges. According to court documents made public on Monday, lawyers for Jeffries have claimed that he may be suffering from dementia, which necessitates a hearing to assess his competency to face the allegations against him.
A neuropsychologist who evaluated Jeffries in October indicated that he likely exhibits signs of dementia characterized by behavioral issues, along with symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. The defense team highlighted that the neuropsychologist found Jeffries’ cognitive functions are significantly impaired, particularly in memory retention, attention span, processing speed, and an increased susceptibility to confusion. They argued that these cognitive deficiencies prevent him from being able to assist effectively with his legal representation.
In a collaborative correspondence to the presiding judge, both the defense and prosecution indicated their intention to have the expert witnesses discuss their findings during a two-day competency hearing set for June. This procedure aims to ascertain whether Jeffries is competent enough to be tried. As of Tuesday, a representative for the prosecution confirmed that there would be no additional comments on the matter.
Michael Jeffries, now 80 years old, is currently released on a $10 million bond following his not guilty plea in October concerning charges of federal sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. The allegations assert that he, alongside his romantic partner and another individual, enticed men to partake in drug-influenced sexual gatherings in the Hamptons by offering them the allure of potential modeling opportunities with the popular clothing brand.
Having led Abercrombie & Fitch for over twenty years, Jeffries stepped down in 2014 as the brand became synonymous with a preppy American style, notably featuring shirtless male models in its marketing campaigns. The indictment revealed in October detailed accusations that from 2008 to 2015, 15 individuals were lured into engaging in sex parties in high-profile locations, including New York City and the Hamptons, as well as upscale hotels in countries such as England, France, Italy, Morocco, and St. Barts.
Furthermore, the indictments claim that participants were sometimes instructed to don costumes, utilize sexual devices, and undergo painful penile injections designed to induce erections during these events.
