Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries Accused of Sexually Exploiting Young Men

The former CEO is at the center of an investigation into alleged sex events with former male models

Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of retail giant Abercrombie & Fitch, has been accused of sexually exploiting young men.

The businessman is at the center of an investigation launched by BBC News that claims Jeffries and his British partner Matthew Smith were part of a “highly [organized] network” that would use a middleman to find young men for sex events.

Jeffries was CEO of the brand at the height of its popularity in the late '90s and early '00s, after Les Wexner (whose portfolio included Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, The Limited, and more) purchased the company in 1988.

Related: Former Victoria's Secret Models Recall Wearing Provocative Child-Like Lingerie Adorned with Toys

In an article published on Monday, eight men told BBC News that they attended the alleged sex events and that some of them were also exploited or abused.

“We are appalled and disgusted by the behavior described in the allegations against Mr. Jeffries, whose employment with Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ended in 2014, nearly ten years ago. Speaking up and coming forward is not easy, and our thoughts are with those who bravely raised their voices,” an Abercrombie & Fitch spokesperson told PEOPLE in a statement.

“Since being contacted by the BBC, we have engaged an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the issues raised. The company’s current executive leadership team and board of directors were not aware of the allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Jeffries,” the statement continued.

The spokesperson also reiterated that Jeffries has not been affiliated with the brand for approximately 10 years.

“For close to a decade, a new executive leadership team and refreshed board of directors have successfully transformed our brands and culture into the values-driven organization we are today,” they added.

“We have zero tolerance for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind.”

Related: Abercrombie & Fitch Responds to Upcoming Netflix Doc: 'We've Evolved'

PEOPLE was unable to immediately reach Jeffries and Smith for comment.

According to BBC News, Jeffries and Smith could possibly face charges for sex trafficking after two former United States prosecutors independently reviewed documents from the investigation and requested one of their own.

One individual who gave their account of events was David Bradberry.

In 2010, he was 23 years old, and met an alleged “middleman” for Jeffries and Smith named James Jacobson.

"Jim made it clear to me that unless I let him perform oral sex on me, that I would not be meeting with Abercrombie & Fitch or Mike Jeffries,” Bradberry, an aspiring model at the time, recalled of the alleged conversation.

Bradberry also claimed that at a later date, he attended a party at Jeffries' former home in the Hamptons where drugs were involved and had sex with the ex-CEO.

Barrett Pall, a former model turned life coach and activist, also attended one of Jeffries' events in the Hamptons.

"This experience, I think it broke me," he said. "I think that this stole any ounce of innocence that I had left. It mentally messed me up. But with the language I now have today, I can sit here and tell you that I was taken advantage of."

In April 2022, Jeffries also came under fire when Netflix released White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch.

Some of the topics covered in the documentary detailed controversy surrounding the brand’s exclusionary marketing practices, discriminatory hiring, and accusations of racism.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.