The former CEO of Abercrombie was deemed unfit for trial last year, but a judge has recently overturned that decision
Michael Jeffries is set to appear before a jury in October, facing 16 counts following a four-month stay in a federal medical center and a 157-page ruling that heavily relied on his own phone calls.
Mike Jeffries, CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, alongside Gilbert Harrison (Photo by David Pomponio/FilmMagic for Paul Wilmot Communications).
A federal judge has determined that Michael Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, is mentally competent to stand trial. This decision reverses her previous finding from last year regarding the allegations of his involvement in an international sex trafficking operation during his tenure at the company.
U.S. District Judge Nusrat Choudhury delivered her decision in a comprehensive 157-page ruling. She stated that there is substantial evidence, exceeding a mere preponderance, demonstrating that Jeffries is competent to proceed with the sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges. She characterized him as having a clear grasp of the proceedings, noting his rational and factual understanding. Additionally, she regarded him as a reasonably intelligent individual and an effective communicator, with ample capability to engage with his lawyers.
Competency holds a distinct legal significance in this context. It is not a matter of guilt or innocence. It inquires solely if a defendant comprehends the situation he is in and is able to assist his attorneys in his defense. If the answer is no, the case halts until there is a change.
Last year, the response was negative. In May 2025, Choudhury discovered that Jeffries was afflicted with a mental illness or defect, rendering him incapable of comprehending the nature and consequences of the case or adequately aiding in his defense. His attorneys informed the court that the 80-year-old needed continuous care due to Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury. Doctors indicated that his memory impairment and cognitive decline rendered him unable to collaborate effectively with his lawyer or reliably remember the relevant events. Both the defense and the prosecutors requested that he be placed in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for hospitalization and treatment, which could facilitate the progression of the case. Choudhury mandated his hospitalization for a duration of up to four months.
He traveled to the Federal Medical Center located in Butner, North Carolina. What occurred there is what altered the result.
Choudhury examined the testimony of six expert witnesses, medical records, and over 21 hours of recorded phone calls from Jeffries at the facility. Several medical experts who assessed him following treatment confirmed his competency. The judge highlighted the 109 calls he made during his four-month stay as especially revealing, noting that in those calls, he is a skilled conversational partner who shows the capacity to absorb new information and recall it days or weeks later, particularly when the topic is of interest to him.
She referenced a call in which Jeffries expressed concern about going to trial, mentioning that if he were found guilty, they would lose all their money. In another instance, he stated that it would be a disaster in terms of time, effort, money, and in every conceivable way.
His legal team contended as recently as the end of May that the combination of the brain injury and what one expert identified as probable Lewy body dementia rendered him incapable of consulting with counsel with any reasonable degree of rational understanding.
Choudhury incorporated accommodations into the trial regardless. Court will be in session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with increased breaks, allowing Jeffries each morning to review transcripts and discuss strategy with his attorneys.
The underlying case originates from his arrest in 2024. Federal prosecutors alleged that Jeffries was involved in an international sex trafficking operation with two other men while he was still managing Abercrombie & Fitch, with claims concerning numerous young male models. In October 2024, he entered a not guilty plea to 16 charges related to sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. The federal charges came in the wake of sexual misconduct accusations that had previously emerged in a civil case and through media coverage.
Brian Bieber, an attorney for Jeffries, refrained from commenting on the ruling, stating only that the case and all related matters will be addressed in the courtroom rather than in the media.
Jeffries is 82 years old. The trial is set to take place in late October at the federal court located in Central Islip on Long Island.
