Mike Jeffries, the former chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been declared mentally fit to stand trial on federal sex trafficking and prostitution charges after months of medical treatment. The 81-year-old executive, who was previously deemed incompetent due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in May, has now been assessed as capable of understanding legal proceedings and assisting in his own defense.
US prosecutors confirmed that medical experts at FMC Butner—a specialized federal prison facility in North Carolina—have concluded Jeffries’ competency has been restored. He was released from the medical prison in late November following the evaluation. Assistant US attorney Megan Farrell stated that the determination followed comprehensive assessments by both a neuropsychologist and psychologist.
The court has scheduled a final competency hearing for early 2026, with prosecutors requesting an October trial date. Jeffries faces allegations that he, along with his British partner Matthew Smith, 61, and alleged middleman James Jacobson, 72, operated an international sex-trafficking enterprise between 2008 and 2015. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges that carry potential life sentences.
Federal authorities accuse the trio of leveraging their wealth and influence to exploit vulnerable men through force, fraud, and coercion, allegedly compelling aspiring models to participate in violent and exploitative sexual acts. The criminal investigation gained momentum following a 2023 BBC documentary and podcast series that exposed the sophisticated global operation allegedly run by Jeffries during his tenure as CEO.
In a related development, Abercrombie & Fitch has been ordered to cover Jeffries’ criminal defense costs—estimated to reach millions—due to an indemnification agreement signed upon his 2014 departure. Meanwhile, multiple civil lawsuits from alleged victims continue against Jeffries, Smith, and the company. Over 40 men have now come forward with allegations of rape, sexual assault, or drugging, which the defendants vehemently deny.
One plaintiff, who remains anonymous due to the ongoing FBI investigation, expressed relief at the competency determination: ‘For the first time, it feels like we’re moving toward a future where he must answer for what happened.’
Abercrombie & Fitch maintains it had no knowledge of the alleged activities and emphasizes its current leadership has instilled ‘zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind.’