Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries may have dementia and be unable to face sex charges, defence argues

The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch may have dementia and a competency hearing is needed to assess whether he can face sex charges, defence lawyers have said.

Mike Jeffries, 80 and who was CEO of glitzy retailer Abercrombie & Fitch for more than two decades, is free on $10m (£7.7m) bond after pleading not guilty in October to federal sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges.

Lawyers for Jeffries said in court papers unsealed on Monday in federal court in New York, that a neuropsychologist who examined the defendant in October concluded he likely has dementia with behavioural disturbance, Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

The lawyers wrote the neuropsychologist concluded that cognitive impairments, including memory loss, diminished attention, processing speed slowness, and ease of confusion means Jeffries would not be capable of assisting his attorneys.

In a joint letter to the judge, defence lawyers and prosecutors suggested experts who have evaluated Jeffries testify at a two-day competency hearing in June so that a ruling on competency can follow.

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Prosecutors said in October that 15 accusers were induced by “force, fraud and coercion” to engage in drug-fuelled sex parties in which the men were sometimes directed to wear costumes, consume alcohol and muscle relaxants, use sex toys and endure painful erection-inducing penile injections.

They were also required to sign non-disclosure agreements, the indictment said.

The events took place between 2008 and 2015 in the Hamptons, the resort on Long Island where Jeffries has a home, as well as at hotels in England, France, Italy, Morocco and St Barts, according to the indictment.