A competency hearing is scheduled this week for former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, with his defense attorneys expected to argue that his dementia diagnosis could cause him to "blurt out" and disrupt proceedings in his federal sex trafficking case. The hearing is set to begin on Wednesday, March 26, 2026, in a Brooklyn federal court.
Jeffries, 80, and his partner, Matthew Smith, 62, were indicted in September 2024 on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. They have pleaded not guilty. The indictment alleges they exploited young adult men for commercial sex from 2009 to 2015, using a middleman to recruit them for events in New York, London, and other global cities.
In court filings, Jeffries's lawyers have stated he suffers from advanced dementia, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions, making him unable to assist in his own defense or control outbursts. Prosecutors have contested these claims, suggesting his condition may be exaggerated. The hearing will determine if Jeffries is competent to stand trial.
