Barrett Pall revealing a diary entry detailing his encounter with Mike Jeffries to BBC reporter Rianna Croxford.
In a federal courtroom in New York, I find myself face to face with Mike Jeffries for the first time – the ex-fashion mogul I’ve been investigating for the BBC for three years. He gazes directly at me, lips tight and chin raised, seated before the judge.
Thanks to my reporting, he was apprehended this week by the FBI and charged with operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution ring alongside his British associate, Matthew Smith, and their intermediary James Jacobson.
Authorities took action after listening to my podcast series, The Abercrombie Guys, where I uncovered proof that Mr. Jeffries, 80, and Mr. Smith, 61, were at the core of a complex global scheme involving a network of recruiters and an intermediary scouting young men for sex.
As the CEO of teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries was described to me as an eccentric and superstitious genius who embodied the youthful All-American brand he founded, with his highlighted hair and affinity for flip-flops and plastic surgery.
However, now with white hair, dissolved fillers, and wearing an ankle monitor – he appeared a mere shadow of the mogul rumored to have exploited vulnerable models during his tenure.
US prosecutors allege that he and the other defendants utilized force, fraud, and coercion to compel men to participate in violent and exploitative sexual acts from 2008 to 2015. If convicted, they could face a life sentence.
With sagging shoulders, Mr. Jeffries maintained a blank expression as his attorney entered a plea of not guilty. His life partner, Matthew Smith, a UK citizen, has yet to make a court appearance and is currently in custody pending trial.
Warning: This story includes descriptions of sexual activities.
When I reflect on the genesis of my investigation in January 2021, I never envisioned it culminating in this moment.
During the pandemic, while researching the fashion industry, I stumbled upon a cryptic Instagram comment by former model Barrett Pall, sparking a conversation about the overlooked abuse against male models.
We soon connected over the phone, and after an hour of discussion, he confided in me a secret he had never shared before.
“It’s probably the darkest experience I’ve ever faced,” he revealed. “They had someone come and shave me, my entire body, because that’s what they preferred.”
Barrett recounted an incident in 2011, at the age of 22, when he was introduced by an older model to a mysterious middleman with a peculiar appearance. This man, later identified as James Jacobson, allegedly subjected him to a sex act as an initiation before sending him to Mike Jeffries and his British partner.
Barrett claimed that for years, the duo hosted elaborate sex gatherings at their lavish Hamptons residence. He described an event he attended, facilitated by chaperones in Abercrombie polos and flip-flops, serving alcohol, poppers, and lubricant on silver platters.
An old-school investigation
Barrett Pall, a former model turned life coach and activist, recounted feeling pressured to attend an event in the Hamptons in 2011.
Barrett’s revelations spurred a two-year investigation, taking me across America to track down affected men and confront those involved, including the middleman.
Typically, during my investigations, I can unearth leads by scouring newspaper archives, court records, or social media. However, there was no public record of these allegations.
Hence, I adopted a traditional approach, creating my own path through word of mouth, knocking on doors, and sending handwritten letters to potential sources. I reached out to hundreds of individuals, including former Abercrombie & Fitch models and Mr. Jeffries’ former household staff, establishing rapport over months.
A significant breakthrough occurred when Barrett provided me with an old iPad, revealing an itinerary and flight ticket corroborating the Hamptons event. This led to the discovery of more itineraries from various sources, providing concrete leads that took months to decipher without alerting the wrong party during the evidence-gathering phase.
Numerous men were hesitant to speak out, with two accusing me of being a “spy” for Mike Jeffries, initially fearing his influence. I also became increasingly paranoid after facing numerous hacking attempts daily from unidentified IP addresses.
It was prudent to exercise caution. According to the indictment unsealed on Tuesday, prosecutors alleged that Mike Jeffries employed a comprehensive security company to manage non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), conduct background checks, and monitor and intimidate anyone threatening to expose them.
I have conversed with over 20 men who attended or organized events for Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Smith, some of whom, like Luke, claimed they were recruited under false pretenses without knowledge of the sexual nature of the events.
How did this operation remain concealed for so long?
The answer I arrived at was that the stigma associated with discussing same-sex abuse had effectively silenced the victims as effectively as any NDA. Some disclosed feelings of suicidal ideation, while others felt shattered. In many instances, I was the first person they confided in.
One individual, referred to as Alex, broke down as he recounted being drugged and raped at a lavish event in Marrakesh, leading to him contracting HIV. He believed that Jeffries was the mastermind behind the operation.
Before publishing in October 2023, several men in the story initiated legal proceedings against Mike Jeffries, Matthew Smith, and Abercrombie & Fitch, accusing them of rape, assault, and sex trafficking. All parties have denied any wrongdoing. The lawsuit suggests that over 100 men may have been victimized during Jeffries’ tenure.
Sources also reached out to inform me that law enforcement had contacted them.
Looking back, there were moments where I contemplated giving up. Initially faced with dead ends, the more I heard, the more compelled I felt to shed light on this issue for the first time and hold those accountable.
Over two years since our initial discussion, I inquired why Barrett Pall chose to confide in me.
Tears welled in his eyes as he replied, “My instincts told me to trust her. Share your story with her. And maybe, just maybe, someone will listen.”
In announcing the charges, US attorney Breon Peace issued a stern warning to individuals exploiting and coercing others through the “casting couch” system, cautioning that they may find themselves trading the couch for a prison bed.
BBC correspondent Rianna Croxford near Mr. Jeffries’ residence in the Hamptons.