NEW YORK — On Friday, a federal judge ruled that the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch is mentally unfit to stand trial on sex trafficking charges. As a result, he has been ordered to receive hospitalization in the hope that his mental state might improve.
Michael Jeffries, through his legal team, sought this ruling, citing his severe health issues in a letter submitted to a New York federal court. At 80 years old, Jeffries requires constant care due to Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and the lasting effects of a traumatic brain injury.
Both his defense and the prosecutors agreed that Jeffries should be taken into federal Bureau of Prisons custody, allowing him to be hospitalized and potentially treated enough that the trial could move forward.
In Judge Nusrat Choudhury’s decision, it was stated, “The court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense.” Consequently, she ordered that Jeffries be admitted to a hospital for a period of up to four months.
Currently, Jeffries remains free on a $10 million bond after pleading not guilty in October to federal charges that include sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Prosecutors have alleged that Jeffries, his romantic partner, and a third accomplice enticed men with the promise of modeling work to attend drug-fueled sex parties in locations such as New York City and the Hamptons. These charges reflect similar accusations of misconduct Jeffries has faced in both a previous civil case and widely in the media.
Jeffries’ defense has presented assessments from multiple medical professionals, who unanimously concluded that his cognitive impairments are “progressive and incurable,” raising doubts that he could ever regain the competency needed to participate in his legal defense.
After over two decades leading Abercrombie, Jeffries stepped down in 2014. His partner, Matthew Smith, and their co-defendant, James Jacobson, have also pleaded not guilty and remain free on bond.