A federal judge in Long Island, New York, has ruled that former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries is mentally competent to stand trial on sex-trafficking charges. The 82-year-old, who is currently free on bond, is scheduled to face court proceedings in late October alongside his co-defendants, partner Matthew Smith and staffer James Jacobson.
US District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury issued the ruling after reviewing testimony from medical experts and analyzing hours of recorded phone calls Jeffries made to his romantic partner and legal counsel while in custody. In her decision, Judge Choudhury stated that Jeffries “clearly possesses a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings” and described him as a “reasonably intelligent person and skilled communicator.”
The court’s assessment follows a four-month stay at a federal prison hospital in Butner, North Carolina. While defense attorneys had previously argued that Jeffries suffered from “progressive and incurable” cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and a traumatic brain injury, federal prison officials concluded in December that he was fit to proceed. Judge Choudhury noted that his responses during evaluations and phone conversations demonstrated a clear grasp of courtroom procedures, the legal system, and the roles of various participants.
Brian Bieber, representing Jeffries, declined to address the specifics of the ruling. “We do not comment on the Judge’s rulings,” Bieber stated via email, adding that the case and all related issues would be resolved inside the courtroom rather than through the media.
The charges against Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson include sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Prosecutors allege that the trio utilized the lure of modeling opportunities to recruit men for drug-fueled sex parties held in New York City, the Hamptons, and other locations. These criminal allegations mirror accusations of sexual misconduct that have surfaced in civil litigation and media reports over the past several years.
Jeffries, who departed Abercrombie in 2014 after more than 20 years at the helm, is widely recognized for reshaping the retailer. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a wilderness gear supplier into a dominant force in early 2000s teen mall culture, defined by its preppy aesthetic and provocative marketing strategies. The report also notes that a pretrial hearing was slated for Thursday. The report also notes that that prompted Choudhury to order Jeffries to be hospitalized to see if his mental condition would improve.
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