The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch has been arrested on sex trafficking charges

The former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) and his British partner have been arrested and charged with sex trafficking.

Mike Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and an alleged accomplice were arrested on Tuesday morning.

The FBI and the prosecutor’s office are expected to announce more details at a press conference soon.

Lawyers for Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith have both previously denied any wrongdoing by either man. Responding to the latest news, Mr Jeffries’ lawyer told the BBC: “We will respond in detail to the allegations after the case is opened, and if necessary, but we plan to do it in court – not the media.”

A lawyer for Mr Smith has been approached for comment. IA&F declined to comment on the latest development.

The FBI opened an investigation last year after the BBC revealed allegations that Mike Jeffries and his partner abused and harassed men at parties they held at their New York residences and hotels around the world.

A A BBC investigation they discovered that there was a high-level operation involving a middle man and a network of vigilantes who were tasked with recruiting men to events.

After the BBC report, a lawsuit was filed in New York accusing Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Smith of sex trafficking, rape and sexual harassment.

The lawsuit also accused Abercrombie & Fitch of financing a sex-trafficking operation led by its former CEO during his two decades at the helm.

Under US law, sex trafficking involves getting an adult to travel to another state or country for sex for the purpose of obtaining money through the use of force, fraud or coercion.

Confirming the arrest, Brad Edwards of Edward Henderson, a public lawyer representing some of the alleged victims, said: “This arrest is the first step in getting justice for the many victims who were exploited and abused in this sex trafficking scheme. many years under the official cover Abercrombie provided.

“The BBC’s unprecedented report, along with the lawsuit filed by our company detailing this work, must be credited with the arrest of these people. This was the result of an impressive investigation.”

Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual acts

In its investigation, the BBC spoke to 12 men who described attending or organizing events involving sexual acts for Mr Jeffries, 79, and his British partner Mr Smith, 60, between 2009 and 2015.

The eight men who attended the event said they were hired by a middleman identified by the BBC as James Jacobson.

Mr Jacobson, 70, previously told the BBC in a statement through his lawyer that he was offended by the suggestion of “any coercive, manipulative or aggressive behavior on my part” and had “no knowledge of any such behavior by others”.

The BBC also interviewed a number of other sources, including domestic workers.

Some of the men the BBC spoke to said they were misled about the nature of the events or were not told they were involved in sex. Some said they understand that these events will be about sex, but that is not what is expected of them. They are all paid.

Several told the BBC that an intermediary or other employers had suggested modeling opportunities through A&F.

David Bradberry, then 23 years old and an aspiring model, said it was “made clear” to him that apart from performing oral sex on Mr. Jacobson, will not meet with A&F CEO Mr. Jeffries.

“It was like he was selling fame. And the price was compliance,” Mr Bradberry told the BBC.

Mr. Bradberry said later he went to a party at Mr. Jeffries’ mansion in the Hamptons on Long Island where he met Mr. Jeffries and slept with him.

He said the “secret” location and the presence of Mr Jeffries’ staff, wearing A&F uniforms, monitoring events meant he “didn’t feel safe saying ‘no’ or ‘I don’t feel comfortable about this'”.

After the BBC’s original investigation was published last year, A&F announced it would launch an independent investigation into the allegations raised. When we recently asked when the report would be completed – and if the findings would be made public – the company declined to respond.

Like Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith, the brand has been trying to have the civil case against it dismissed, saying it had no knowledge of the “purported sex-trafficking business” run by its former CEO – which it is accused of funding.

Earlier this year, an American court ruled that A&F must pay the legal defense costs of Mike Jeffries as he continues to fight allegations of human trafficking and rape. The judge ruled that the allegations were related to his work for the company after he sued the brand for refusing to pay his legal fees.

The brand said it does not comment on legal matters. However, in its defense filed in court, A&F said its current management team was “unaware” of the allegations until contacted by the BBC, adding that the company “abhors sexual harassment and condemns the alleged conduct” of Mr Jeffries and others.

In 2014, Mr Jeffries stepped down as CEO following falling sales and left with a retirement package worth around $25m (£20.5m), according to company data at the time.

Once one of America’s highest-paid executives, he was a controversial figure who faced allegations of discrimination against employees, concerns about his high expenses and complaints about the illicit influence of his life partner, Matthew Smith, within A&F.