Partner of ex-Abercrombie CEO enters not guilty plea in sex trafficking case, released on bail

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — Matthew Smith, the partner of former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, was granted release on a $10 million bond on Tuesday in connection with their ongoing sex trafficking case. His release comes with stipulations that require him to remain under home confinement and wear a GPS tracking device.

Smith, aged 61, entered a plea of not guilty to charges related to sex trafficking and prostitution during a federal court session on Long Island, New York.

He was apprehended on October 22, alongside Jeffries and an additional individual, James Jacobson. The trio faces allegations of enticing men to participate in drug-influenced sexual gatherings by promising them modeling opportunities with the iconic retailer.

Court filings from prosecutors indicate that the men were reportedly lured through “force, fraud and coercion” to partake in these sordid events from 2008 to 2015. During the gatherings, some participants were instructed to wear costumes and were subjected to painful procedures involving injections to induce erections.

Both Jeffries and Jacobson have also pleaded not guilty to the charges and were previously released on bail. However, Smith, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and the U.K., was initially denied bail as prosecutors expressed worries about the possibility of him fleeing the country.

According to the stipulations of his bail, Smith must surrender his passport, and both he and Jeffries will be restricted to a maximum of $125,000 in monthly withdrawals from a trust that has been established for their financial benefit.

Smith’s attorney, Joseph Nascimento, remarked that his client is pleased with the bail conditions, stating, “that will allow Mr. Smith to respond to these allegations in court while on home confinement.”

Mike Jeffries became CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch in 1992 and was pivotal in shaping the brand into a defining icon of early 2000s youth culture. However, he stepped down from his position in 2014. Following the recent allegations against him, Abercrombie & Fitch, based in Ohio, expressed its dismay and horror through a statement shared on Instagram.