Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO found mentally fit for sex trafficking trial, judge says
- A federal judge ruled that former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries is mentally competent to stand trial on sex trafficking charges.
- Judge Nusrat Choudhury said Jeffries has a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings and is able to communicate effectively.
- Jeffries had been hospitalized for months at a federal prison medical facility in Butner, North Carolina, after concerns about dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms.
- His lawyers argued that he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and a traumatic brain injury and would not regain competency.
- Jeffries, along with Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
- The trial is scheduled for late October, with a pretrial hearing set for next Thursday.
A federal judge has ruled that former Abercrombie & Fitch chief executive Michael Jeffries is mentally fit to stand trial on sex trafficking charges. U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury said Jeffries has a rational and factual understanding of the case and the courtroom process.
Choudhury said she based her decision on testimony and written reports from medical experts, as well as hours of phone calls Jeffries made while in custody. Jeffries had been hospitalized for months at a federal prison facility in Butner, North Carolina, after concerns about dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Jeffries’ lawyers argued that he suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia and a traumatic brain injury, and that his condition is progressive and irreversible. The judge had ordered the hospitalization to assess whether his condition would improve.
Jeffries, 82, is free on bond and is scheduled to go to trial in late October alongside co-defendants Matthew Smith and James Jacobson. The three have pleaded not guilty to federal charges including sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Prosecutors allege they used modeling opportunities to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties in New York City, the Hamptons and other locations.
前Abercrombie & Fitch首席执行官被裁定具备受审能力，法官称其可出庭应对性交易审判
联邦法官裁定，前Abercrombie & Fitch首席执行官迈克尔·杰弗里斯具备就性交易指控受审的精神能力。美国联邦地区法官努斯拉特·乔杜里表示，杰弗里斯对案件和法庭程序有理性且事实性的理解。
乔杜里说，她的决定依据了医学专家的证词和书面报告，以及杰弗里斯在羁押期间拨出的数小时电话录音。此前，在外界担忧其出现痴呆和阿尔茨海默病症状后，杰弗里斯已在北卡罗来纳州巴特纳的一所联邦监狱机构住院数月。
杰弗里斯的律师辩称，他患有阿尔茨海默病、路易体痴呆和创伤性脑损伤，且病情具有进展性、不可逆，无法恢复受审能力。法官此前下令对他进行住院评估，以判断其状况是否会改善。
82岁的杰弗里斯目前保释在外，预计将于10月下旬与同案被告马修·史密斯和詹姆斯·雅各布森一同受审。三人均对包括性交易和跨州卖淫在内的联邦指控表示不认罪。检方称，他们利用模特工作的承诺诱使男子参加在纽约市、汉普顿及其他地点举行的涉毒性聚会。