Ex-Abercrombie CEO Unfit for Sex Trafficking Trial

A New York federal judge, Nusrat Choudhury, has ruled that former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, age 80, is mentally unfit to stand trial on charges related to an alleged international sex trafficking and prostitution ring he is accused of running with his partner Matthew Smith and recruiter James Jacobson. Jeffries has been diagnosed with severe dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurocognitive disorders, rendering him unable to understand the proceedings or assist in his defense. He will be hospitalized and re-evaluated for up to four months to determine if his competency can be restored, after which the court will decide the next steps. The alleged crimes, denied by all three men, reportedly involved exploiting and coercing young, aspiring male models under false pretenses from 2008 to 2015. The case gained public attention following investigative reporting and a BBC documentary. Prior to this ruling, Jeffries had been under house arrest on a $10 million bond.