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Judge Rules Michael Jeffries Mentally Competent to Stand Trial on Sex Trafficking Charges

A federal judge has ruled that Michael Jeffries is mentally competent to stand trial on federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. The 82-year-old former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch faces over a dozen charges related to a global sex trafficking operation he allegedly managed while leading the fashion retailer. Judge Nusrat Choudhury concluded that Michael Jeffries possesses a rational and factual understanding of the criminal legal system. This ruling reverses a previous decision where the court deemed him incompetent due to symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. To reach this conclusion, the judge reviewed medical reports and over 100 phone calls made by Michael Jeffries during a four-month hospital stay. The trial is scheduled to begin in late October on Long Island. To accommodate Michael Jeffries's cognitive impairments, the court will hold proceedings from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, allowing him extra time each morning to review transcripts and consult with his legal team.

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