Abercrombie & Fitch’s former chief executive is unable to stand trial on sex trafficking charges due to dementia, according to both prosecutors and his lawyers.
Mike Jeffries, who has Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and the residual effects of a traumatic brain injury, requires constant care, as stated in a letter filed at a federal court in Central Islip, New York.
At 80 years old, Jeffries needs 24-hour care according to medical evaluations, and both prosecutors and defense attorneys are requesting for him to be in the custody of the federal bureau of prisons for up to four months to receive treatment that could potentially allow his case to proceed.
Jeffries, who served as the CEO of A&F from 1992 to 2014, pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges in October and was released on a $10m bond.
15 men have accused Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith, and their alleged recruiter James Jacobson of coercing them into drug-fueled sex parties.
Allegedly, they lured men by promising them modeling opportunities for A&F advertisements at parties in various locations.
Smith and Jacobson have also pleaded not guilty.
‘Progressive and incurable’
In a recent letter about Jeffries’ health, his lawyers stated that multiple medical professionals have confirmed his cognitive issues are progressive and incurable, making him unable to understand the charges against him.
They added that Dr. Alexander Bardey, a forensic psychiatrist, and Dr. Cheryl Paradis, a forensic psychologist, have concluded that Jeffries cannot proceed in the current case or be restored to competency in the future.
Jeffries’ partner Matthew Smith, pictured outside the court in December, has also pleaded not guilty. Pic: AP
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According to the doctors, Jeffries’ neurocognitive disorder will continue to decline over time, impacting his functional capacity, and he is not competent to proceed with the case.
After leading A&F for over two decades, Jeffries left the company in 2014, transforming it into a fashion icon of the early 2000s from a hunting and outdoor goods store established in 1892.
His lawyers have not responded to requests for comments, and the US attorney’s office for the eastern district of New York has declined to comment.