Michael Jeffries, the 81-year-old New Albany resident and former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, will face a jury on federal sex-trafficking charges after a federal judge ruled he is mentally competent to stand trial.

U.S. District Judge Nusrat Choudhury of the Eastern District of New York reversed her own May 2025 finding that Jeffries was incompetent due to dementia, issuing a 157-page opinion Thursday, Aug. 20, that concluded he understands the charges against him and can work with his attorneys. Choudhury wrote that Jeffries is significantly more intelligent and functions at a far higher level than other defendants found competent across the country, and that she had no hesitation concluding he is competent to proceed, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

Jeffries faces a 16-count federal indictment: one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution.

He has pleaded not guilty. Trial is set to begin Oct. 26 in federal court on Long Island.

Recorded calls undercut dementia defense

The competency reversal hinged in part on 109 phone calls Jeffries made during a four-month stay at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, where he was committed from July through November 2025 for competency restoration. Judge Choudhury called the recordings "particularly illuminating," according to NBC News.

In one call, Jeffries told a co-defendant that an evaluator "is very committed to coming up with a report that I am competent, which, as you know, is a disaster, will be a disaster for us in terms of time, effort, money, every way you can say it," according to court records cited in the Dispatch's reporting. He also said he was "screwed" and "in real trouble" if the case went to trial.

One evaluating doctor concluded Jeffries likely does not have dementia or Alzheimer's disease, citing a lack of significant deterioration since 2023, NBC4 reported. After a four-day competency hearing in March 2026, six expert witnesses testified before Choudhury issued her ruling.

The charges

Federal prosecutors allege Jeffries, his romantic partner Matthew C. Smith, and alleged recruiter James Jacobson operated a sex-trafficking and prostitution ring from approximately 2008 to 2015. The three were charged in October 2024.

Prosecutors say the men organized events in New York City, England and Morocco where victims were led to believe participation could lead to modeling opportunities. At least one victim was as young as 19, and more than 40 men have come forward with accusations, according to court records.

There is no evidence that any of the alleged crimes took place at Abercrombie & Fitch's New Albany headquarters or involved company resources, the Dispatch noted. Jeffries ran the retailer from 1992 to 2014.

What comes next

Jeffries remains free on bond.

Choudhury will accommodate his age and cognitive condition at trial by holding court from 1 to 5 p.m. daily, with regular breaks and time each morning for Jeffries to review transcripts and discuss strategy with his lawyers. His attorney, Brian Bieber, said the case and all related issues will be resolved in the courtroom, not in the media.