Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO was ruled unsuitable for trial and ordered hospitalization
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge ruled Friday that the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch was not able to stand trial on allegations of sex trafficking and ordered him to be hospitalized to see if his psychological condition improved.
Michael Jeffries’ attorney seeks the ruling last month and wrote in a letter filed in New York federal court that the 80-year-old needs 24/7 care because of Alzheimer’s disease, Louis’ physical dementia and “the residual effects of traumatic brain injury.”
Both the defense and prosecutors have requested that Jeffries be placed in the Federal Prison Authority so that he can be hospitalized and treated so that his criminal case can be carried out.
Judge Nusrat Choudhury wrote in his decision: “The court has made extensive evidence that the defendant is currently suffering from a mental illness or defect that makes him so mentally powerless that he cannot understand the nature and consequences of the lawsuit against him or the appropriate assistance to his defense.”
He directed the Attorney General’s Office to put Jeffries in the hospital for up to four months.
Since pleading not guilty in October, Jeffries has secured charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution for free on $10 million in bonds.
Prosecutors said he, his romantic partner and a third person used the promise of modeling work to attract men to drug-style sex parties in New York City, Hampton and other locations. In recent years, the allegations announced in October echoed allegations of sexual misconduct in civil cases and media.
Jeffries’ attorney said in the letter that at least four medical professionals concluded that their clients’ cognitive problems were “progressive and incurable” and that he would not “restore his abilities, nor recover in the future.”
Jeffries left Abercrombie in 2014 after taking the helm for twenty years. His partner, Matthew Smith, also pleaded not guilty to his co-defendant, James Jacobson, and is still in Bond.
