Judge Rules Ex-Abercrombie CEO Fit for Sex Trafficking Trial

A federal judge has ruled that Michael Jeffries, the former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch, is mentally competent to stand trial on sex trafficking charges. The decision comes after Jeffries spent several months at a federal prison hospital in Butner, North Carolina, where he was treated for dementia and Alzheimer's symptoms.

U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury issued the ruling on Thursday, stating that Jeffries "clearly possesses a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings." The judge noted that Jeffries is a "reasonably intelligent person and skilled communicator," based on testimony from medical experts, written reports, and hours of phone calls Jeffries made while in custody.

In her decision, Choudhury wrote that Jeffries' responses during evaluations and his phone conversations demonstrate an understanding of the criminal legal system, courtroom procedures, and key legal concepts. The judge had ordered Jeffries to the hospital to determine whether his mental condition could improve after his lawyers argued he required around-the-clock care for Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and a traumatic brain injury.

Jeffries' legal team had presented medical experts who testified that his cognitive issues were "progressive and incurable." However, federal prison officials deemed Jeffries mentally fit to stand trial in December after his roughly four-month stay at Butner.

Jeffries, 82, is currently free on bond. He is scheduled to go to trial in late October alongside two co-defendants: his partner Matthew Smith and staffer James Jacobson. A pretrial hearing is set for next Thursday. All three have pleaded not guilty to federal charges, including sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.

Prosecutors allege the trio used promises of modeling jobs to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties in New York City, the Hamptons, and other locations. The criminal case mirrors sexual misconduct accusations previously raised in civil litigation and media reports.

Jeffries led Abercrombie & Fitch for more than two decades before leaving in 2014. He is credited with transforming the retailer from a wilderness gear outfitter into a dominant force in early 2000s teen mall culture through its preppy aesthetic and provocative marketing.