Jeffries ruled competent for sex trafficking trial
Analysis based on 16 articles · First reported Aug 21, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026
The ruling removes uncertainty about trial delay, allowing the case to proceed. Abercrombie & Fitch's brand reputation may face renewed scrutiny, but the company is not a defendant and the impact on its stock is likely limited.
U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Jahan Choudhury ruled that Michael Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, is mentally competent to stand trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Jeffries had been hospitalized for months at a federal prison hospital in Butner, North Carolina, for dementia and Alzheimer's symptoms. The judge reviewed medical reports and phone calls, concluding Jeffries understands the proceedings. Jeffries, 82, is free on bond and faces trial in late October alongside co-defendants Matthew Smith and James A. Jacobson. All have pleaded not guilty to charges including sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Prosecutors allege they used modeling job promises to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties. Jeffries left Abercrombie in 2014.
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