Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries 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 showed a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings after reviewing medical reports and recorded phone calls.
- Jeffries had been hospitalized for months in a federal prison hospital in Butner, North Carolina, after his lawyers said he had dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms.
- Jeffries is 82 and is currently free on bond; his trial is scheduled for late October with two co-defendants.
- Jeffries, Matthew Smith, and James Jacobson have pleaded not guilty to federal charges including sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
A federal judge on Long Island ruled that former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries is mentally competent to stand trial on sex trafficking charges. U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury said Jeffries had a rational and factual understanding of the criminal proceedings.
The judge said her decision was based on testimony, written reports from medical experts, and hours of recorded phone calls Jeffries made while in custody. Jeffries had previously been hospitalized at a federal prison medical facility in Butner, North Carolina, after his lawyers said he was suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s symptoms and a traumatic brain injury.
Jeffries’ legal team had argued that his cognitive problems were progressive and incurable, and that he would not regain competency. Federal prison officials later determined in December that he was fit to stand trial.
Jeffries, along with co-defendants Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Prosecutors say the three used promised modeling work to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties in New York City, the Hamptons and other locations.
前阿贝克隆比与菲奇首席执行官迈克尔·杰弗里斯被裁定具备受审能力，法官称
纽约长岛一名联邦法官裁定，前阿贝克隆比与菲奇首席执行官迈克尔·杰弗里斯具备就性交易指控受审的能力。美国联邦地区法官努斯拉特·乔杜里表示，杰弗里斯对刑事诉讼程序有理性且事实性的理解。
法官称，她的判断依据包括证人证词、医学专家的书面报告，以及杰弗里斯在羁押期间拨打的数小时录音电话。此前，杰弗里斯曾在北卡罗来纳州巴特纳的一所联邦监狱医疗机构住院，律师称他患有痴呆、阿尔茨海默症状和创伤性脑损伤。
杰弗里斯的辩护团队此前主张，他的认知问题具有进展性且不可逆，不会恢复受审能力。联邦监狱官员随后在12月认定他具备受审资格。
杰弗里斯与共同被告马修·史密斯、詹姆斯·雅各布森均已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，三人以模特工作机会为诱饵，引诱男性参加在纽约、汉普顿等地举行的涉毒性派对。