Mike Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and another alleged middleman were arrested yesterday morning in connection with a federal sex trafficking and interstate prostitution probe.
The investigation was opened last year following claims that Mr Jeffries and his partner had sexually abused and exploited men at events in New York and around the world.
A lawyer representing some of the alleged victims confirmed the arrests in a statement to the BBC and said: “These arrests are a huge first step towards obtaining justice for the many victims who were exploited and abused through this sex-trafficking scheme that operated for many years under the legitimate cover Abercrombie provided.”
Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith have both previously denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Jeffries, Mr Smith and James Jameson, each face a count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution tied to 15 alleged victims, according to yesterday’s indictment.
The indictment accuses the men of hosting “sex events” all over the world and using their influence and power in the modelling world to coerce young men into sex.
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