Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch boss Mike Jeffries is accused of exploiting men for sex after they were recruited for events held in the US or around the world: BBC Panorama makes allegations

The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch and his British partner were accused tonight of exploiting men for sex at events they hosted in the US and around the world.

BBC Panorama has released a dossier containing allegations that a ‘highly organized network’ used an intermediary to find young men for businessman Mike Jeffries, 79, and Matthew Smith, 60.

The investigative documentary said it had spoken to eight men, some of whom alleged they were exploited at events in the US, London, Paris, Venice, Marrakesh and the Caribbean, among others.

It stated which events were involved sex acts and the men said they were recruited by an intermediary identified as James Jacobson, who denies any wrongdoing.

Half claimed they had been misled about the nature of the events or not told sex was expected, while others said they knew it would involve sex but weren’t sure exactly what was expected of them.

It was said that there were modeling opportunities at A&F before meeting Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith.

David Bradberry, then 23, told it the program he was introduced to Mr. Jacobson by an agent who described him as the gatekeeper for “the owners” of A&F.

He told reporter Rianna Croxford that Mr. Jacobson suggested that Bruce Weber, who was A&F’s official photographer at the time, take his photo.

Mr Bradberry claimed: ‘Jim made it clear to me that unless I had him perform oral sex on me, I would not be meeting with Abercrombie & Fitch or Mike Jeffries.

‘I was paralyzed. It was like he was selling fame. And the price was compliance.”

Mr Bradberry said he had been led to believe that ‘this is where everyone starts’.

Mr. Jacobson allegedly gave him $500 and told him it was before his time.

He added: ‘I thought he was just a creepy old guy who I wouldn’t have to see again.’

He accepted an invitation to a daytime event at Jeffries’ former home in the Hamptons on New York’s Long Island, recently sold for $29 million. Mr Bradberry said he understood Mike Jeffries was a ‘powerful man’ who could ‘make his career’.

Before the event, he said he received an A&F gift card to purchase an outfit, which he said made it feel “legitimate” and “official.”

In the Hamptons, Mr. Bradberry said he spoke with Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Smith about his ambitions to become an A&F model. Later, he said, Jeffries held “poppers” under his nose – a drug that can cause a strong headache and disorientation – and later had sex with him.

Men who attended these events told the BBC they saw Mike Jeffries and Matthew Smith engage in sexual activity with around four men or ‘ordered’ them to have sex with each other. Afterward, the men said they were given envelopes filled with thousands of dollars in cash.

According to the BBC, Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but Mr Jacobson said all the men went into these events “with their eyes wide open”.

The BBC said two former US prosecutors had independently reviewed documents and testimony and called for an investigation to determine whether sex trafficking charges should be filed.

Under U.S. law, sex trafficking includes inducing an adult to travel to another state or country to have sex for money through the use of force, fraud, or coercion.

Other allegations about the Panorama special, The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool, include that recruiters would receive from the men between $500 and $1,000 for each copy.

Mr Jacobson is accused of propositioning them or sexually ‘auditioning’ them, by requesting or offering oral sex before being introduced to Mr Jeffries.

It is also claimed that a personal ‘groomer’ has been hired to intimately shave the body hair of men attending events, an experience some have described as ‘dehumanising’.

Other allegations include that the men were made to sign non-disclosure agreements and understood they would be sued if they spoke out.

Jeffries’ personal staff, who wore A&F uniforms, also allegedly monitored the men – including in the bedroom – and then handed them money.

Barrett Pall, a former model turned life coach and activist, said he felt pressured to attend an event in the Hamptons in 2011.

When he was 22, he told the BBC that he had been recruited by an older model, who received a referral fee, to be his “replacement” for “some kind of sexual experience” with the couple.

He said the older model told him that “you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” but suggested that “the further you go, the better,” and hinted at career opportunities. When he arrived at the event, under the supervision of the staff, he felt pressured to ‘perform’.

‘How was I supposed to leave? “I didn’t have a car,” he said. “I had an attendant watching me.”

Mr Pall said one of the other men recruited for the event performed oral sex on him while Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith watched. He said they then encouraged him to come to the bed and kiss Mr Jeffries. He added that later two other men recruited for the event had sex with the A&F boss and his partner.

At one point he said Mr Jeffries stood behind him and groped him.

Brad Edwards, a civil attorney who examined the evidence, according to the BBC, says U.S. prosecutors should investigate whether what these “brave men” describe could be sex trafficking.

Mr Edwards said: ‘There may have been coercion on some men, while others may not have felt the coercive tactic.’

“Remember that coercion is the reasonable belief that serious harm will be done and that serious harm can include reputational harm, financial harm and physical harm,” he added.

Mr Edwards also said Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith could argue the men were consenting adults and that the fact some had engaged in commercial sex in the past was “a factor”, although he said actions the past were ‘really irrelevant’ to the question of whether a particular commercial sex act was the result of force, fraud or coercion. However, Mr Edwards said there was a “very high” burden of proof on prosecutors.

Elizabeth Geddes, who served as a federal prosecutor for more than 15 years, said: “There is certainly an argument that these young men were subjected to possible coercion. I believe there are grounds for a prosecutor to open an investigation and take a close look at this conduct to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.”

Mr Jacobson – the middleman, now 70 years old – said in a statement through his lawyer that he took umbrage at the suggestion of “any coercive, deceptive or forceful behavior on my part” and had “no knowledge of any such behavior by others.” .

He said he didn’t remember making any promises about modeling opportunities.

“Every meeting I had was completely consensual,” he said. “Everyone I came into contact with who attended these events went in with their eyes wide open.”

Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith declined to comment to the BBC. A&F told the BBC it was ‘shocked and disgusted’ by the alleged behaviour.

It says the new leadership has transformed the company into “the values-driven organization we are today” and that it has “zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind.”

BBC Panorama – The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool and World of Secrets Season One: The Abercrombie Guys on BBC Sounds