Michael Jeffries, former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, leaves following a hearing at the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries and his associate will plead not guilty Friday to federal criminal charges of sexually exploiting dozens of men, many of whom sought to be models for the clothing brand. Jeffries, 80, and James Jacobson, 71, are set to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Long Island, New York, three days after being arrested on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges. Attorneys for both men confirmed to CNBC earlier Friday that their clients would enter not-guilty pleas. The graphic 16-count indictment unsealed Tuesday accuses Jeffries and his romantic partner Matthew Smith, 61, of operating an international sex trafficking enterprise over more than six years, most of which overlapped with Jeffries' tenure as CEO of Abercrombie.

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Persons: Michael Jeffries, Abercrombie &, Paul G, Mike Jeffries, Jeffries, James Jacobson, Matthew Smith, Abercrombie Organizations: Abercrombie, Abercrombie & Fitch, Rogers Federal Building, ., Fitch, CNBC Locations: West Palm Beach , Florida, U.S, Long Island , New York