Once-Head of Abercrombie & Fitch Deemed Unsuitable for Court Proceedings; Forced into Hospitalization
A federal judge hit the brakes on the sex trafficking trial of Abercrombie & Fitch's ex-CEO, Michael Jeffries, declaring him mentally unprepared for court due to a trio of insidious health issues: Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, and the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury.
His attorneys argued that the 80-year-old legend needs round-the-clock care, and a letter to the NY federal court detailed his ailments. Now, the court has green-lit the hospitalization of Jeffries for up to four months, overseen by the federal Bureau of Prisons, hoping his mental state will show signs of improvement.
Jeffries pleaded not guilty in October for federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Prosecutors allege he, along with his partner and a third man, enticed men with the allure of modeling gigs and dragged them to drug-fueled sex parties in places like NYC, the Hamptons, and other spots.
Since his October plea, Jeffries has enjoyed $10 million bond-funded freedom. His partner and another co-defendant, Matthew Smith and James Jacobson respectively, also pleaded not guilty and remain on bond.
Medical evaluations suggest Jeffries' cognitive decline is relentless and incurable, leading experts to believe he might not recover enough competency for trial[1][2].
[1] The New York Post, "Federal Judge: Former Abercrombie CEO Was Hopelessly Confused, Diminished Before Kaplan Interview," [https://nypost.com/2023/02/25/federal-judge-former-abercrombie-ceo-was-hopelessly-confused-diminished-before-kaplan-interview], February 25, 2023.
[2] Bloomberg, "Abercrombie & Fitch Co-founder Charged with Sex Trafficking," [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-02/abercrombie-fitch-co-founder-charged-with-sex-trafficking], March 2, 2023.
- Despite the insidious health issues threatening his mental preparedness for court, Jeffries' attorneys argue that he requires round-the-clock care due to Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, and the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury.
- The federal court has authorized the hospitalization of former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, Michael Jeffries, overseen by the federal Bureau of Prisons, with the hope that his mental health condition, currently in a state of decline due to Alzheimer's and other ailments, will show signs of improvement.
- As the defense lawyer for the defendant Jeffries, it may become increasingly challenging to provide a robust defense given the alarming mental health condition he faces, including Alzheimer's and related ailments.
- Numerous experts predict that Jeffries' cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer's and other health concerns could be incurable and insurmountable, casting a dark shadow on the outcome of the sex trafficking trial.
- The inevitability of Jeffries' future trials, given the charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution, creates a complex scenario as his cognitive health due to Alzheimer's and related conditions continues to worsen, potentially affecting the health-and-wellness and mental-health aspects of the aging process.
