The sex trafficking case is being handled in federal court on Long Island, with a key competency hearing set for March.
Federal prosecutors say Michael S. Jeffries, the former Abercrombie & Fitch chief executive accused of running an international sex trafficking operation, is now competent to stand trial, reversing an earlier court finding that he was unfit due to serious cognitive decline.
Jeffries, 81, was ruled incompetent in May after medical evaluations cited Alzheimer’s-related symptoms along with other conditions, prompting the judge to order treatment intended to determine whether his competency could be restored.
What changed, according to the government
In a recent filing, prosecutors pointed to a forensic evaluation conducted while Jeffries was treated at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, saying medical staff now believe he understands the court process and can assist his attorneys. He was discharged from the facility on Nov. 21, according to reporting on the case.
Jeffries’ defense team disputes that conclusion and says earlier expert assessments found his cognitive problems to be progressive and not something that can be meaningfully reversed, setting up a high-stakes courtroom fight over whether the case can proceed.
A March hearing, and a possible 2026 trial timeline
U.S. District Judge Nusrat Choudhury has scheduled a March hearing where doctors are expected to testify about Jeffries’ mental state. If the court finds him competent, the judge has indicated the goal would be to move the case toward trial, with timelines potentially stretching into late 2026.
The allegations at the center of the case
Jeffries was arrested in October 2024 alongside Matthew Smith (described by prosecutors as his romantic partner) and James Jacobson. All have pleaded not guilty.
Federal prosecutors allege the trio used a network of recruiters and intermediaries to lure men with promises tied to modeling opportunities, then used force, fraud, and coercion as part of a prostitution enterprise that operated over multiple years.
The criminal case has also unfolded against the backdrop of civil litigation. Abercrombie and Jeffries were previously sued over sex trafficking-related accusations, according to earlier reporting.
