The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch has been arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. The very same charges are being held against rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs leading some to speculate if the rapper threw the fashion giant under the bus.
Federal prosecutors announced in a press conference Tuesday they were charging Michael S. Jeffries in connection to running an alleged international sex trafficking ring and prostitution business between 2008 and 2015. The indictment claims Jeffries, along with two associates — Matthew Smith and James Jacobson — held “sex events” both in the United States and overseas in countries including France and Italy.
There, they are alleged to have used “coercive, fraudulent and deceptive tactics” to get men to engage in commercial sex. The victims were as young as 19 years old, court documents say.
The men, most being aspiring models, were ordered to sign NDA’s and surrender their belongings to participate. They would then be provided lubricants, alcohol and other substances including Viagra.
… Sound familiar? Combs was slammed with a federal indictment in September accusing him of domestic sex trafficking and interstate prostitution by abusing his power as a music industry giant. The Feds raided his mansions in Miami and Los Angeles in March discovering firearms and a damning count of 1,000 bottles of baby oil. Combs was arrested and denied bail three times.
On top of the sex crime charges, Combs faces a number to sexual assault lawsuits. Civil attorneys representing the 100-plus plaintiffs claim other big-name celebrities or business giants were involved in Combs’ alleged trafficking scheme. The internet was waiting patiently to see who could be the first Combs would throw under the bus to save himself from a lifetime in prison. Jeffries hasn’t been named in any association to Combs’ case. Though, social media users have their own theory.
“- 80 year-old Mike Jeffries was just arrested for operating a gay sex trafficking network. Guess who was a model for Abercrombie & Fitch in 1998 before their breakout role on the hit sitcom That ‘70s Show? Ashton Kutcher. Now, amid the growing Diddy scandal, close pal and Diddy party goer Ashton Kutcher is reportedly moving/fleeing to Europe…” wrote one X user.
“Diddy probably snitched or he was probably on those recordings. This parallels what Diddy was doing,” said one TikTok user, comparing the mogul’s alleged offenses to Jeffries’ indictment.
“You can tell Diddy is one of those that will tell all to save himself,” wrote another TikToker suspecting Combs sold out Jeffries to help his own case.
“Diddy said imma just tell on one so y’all will stop playing with me. Y’all better put him underneath the jail. I don’t care who he tells on,” said another TikTok user. She’s not the only one who believes Combs shouldn’t receive special treatment if he gives up any names.
Unlike Combs, Jeffries managed to be released from custody on a $10 million bond, per NBC. He’ll be on home detention with GPS monitoring and must surrender his passport.