Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries Possibly Suffering from Dementia, Defense Claims in Sex Charge Case | US News
The previous CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch may be suffering from dementia, and a competency hearing is being sought to determine if he is fit to face charges related to sexual misconduct, according to defense attorneys.
Mike Jeffries, 80, who led the prominent retailer Abercrombie & Fitch for over twenty years, is currently out on a $10 million (£7.7 million) bond after entering a not guilty plea in October against federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
Defense lawyers stated in documents made public on Monday in a federal court in New York that a neuropsychologist who evaluated Jeffries in October determined that he is likely experiencing dementia accompanied by behavioral disturbances, as well as Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
The attorneys noted that the neuropsychologist found cognitive deficits, such as memory loss, reduced attention span, slowed processing speed, and a propensity for confusion, which indicates that Jeffries may not be capable of aiding his defense team.
In a joint correspondence to the judge, both defense attorneys and prosecutors recommended that experts who have assessed Jeffries testify during a two-day competency hearing scheduled for June, allowing for a subsequent ruling on his competency.
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Prosecutors indicated in October that 15 alleged victims were coerced through “force, fraud, and coercion” to participate in drug-infused sex parties, where attendees were frequently instructed to don costumes, consume alcohol and muscle relaxants, utilize sex toys, and undergo painful penile injections to maintain erections.
These activities reportedly took place between 2008 and 2015 in the Hamptons, the upscale Long Island resort where Jeffries resides, as well as at various hotels across England, France, Italy, Morocco, and St. Barts, as per the indictment.
