Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.

Lawyers entered the plea on behalf of Mr Jeffries in recent York federal court on Long Island as he sat alongside them in court in a navy blue suit, his face expressionless.

Sitting just one row behind Mr Jeffries was his alleged middleman, James Jacobson, who also pleaded not guilty during a hearing correct after the ex-CEO.

Mr Jeffries’ British-American associate Matthew Smith, who faces the same charges, is expected to appear in recent York court at a later date.

Federal prosecutors have said the men used force, fraud and coercion to engage in “violent and exploitive” sexual acts.

The FBI launched a probe into the former A&F CEO last year after a BBC investigation found several men who accused Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith of sexually abusing them at events they hosted in their recent York residences and hotels around the globe.

During a 10-minute court hearing on Friday in Long Island, recent York Judge Steven Tiscione told Mr Jeffries he would be under house arrest, adding that he was only allowed to leave his homes in recent York and Florida for medical appointments, visits with his lawyers and religious events.

Mr Jeffries posted a $10m (£7.7m) debt safety using his house on Fisher Island in recent York as safety.

The hearing was attended by both Mr Jeffries’ son and wife, who had to consent to use their house for the debt safety, as she owns the property as well.

The judge asked his wife, Susan, if she understood that their house could be foreclosed if Mr Jeffries failed to display up to court.

She told the judge she understood.

One of Mr Jeffries’ alleged victims, David Bradberry, who previously told the BBC about the alleged abuse, sat in the front row of the courtroom as the charges against the former CEO were read.

Mr Jeffries did not respond to questions from reporters on Friday afternoon as he walked out of the courtroom and stepped into a black SUV.

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The BBC’s investigation found a sophisticated operation involving a middleman, Mr Jacobson, and a network of recruiters tasked with finding men for these events.

Prosecutors unsealed an indictment against the three men shortly after Mr Jeffries and his associate were arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. Mr Jacobson was arrested in Wisconsin.

Mr Jeffries and Mr Jacobson were released on debt safety. Mr Smith was detained.

Prosecutors declare Mr Jeffries and his associate preyed upon “dozens” of vulnerable youthful men seeking careers in fashion and modelling, and exploited them for their own sexual pleasure between 2008 and 2015.

The indictment lists 15 victims who are not named.

The three men could face up to life in prison if convicted of sex trafficking and up to 20 years in prison if convicted of interstate prostitution.

US attorney for the Eastern District of recent York, Breon tranquility, alleged on Tuesday that Mr Jeffries spent a “prolific amount of money” to traffic men to engage in sex acts with him and his associate, while staff and safety guarded the events.

Mr tranquility said the couple hired Mr Jacobson to recruit men for the couple, flying them to his home in recent York and other locations where they were pressured to consume alcohol, Viagra, and muscle relaxants or injected with them against their will.

In its initial investigation, the BBC spoke to 12 men who described attending or organising events involving sex acts with Mr Jeffries, 80, and his British associate Mr Smith, 61.

The eight men who attended the events said they were recruited by a middleman who the BBC identified as James Jacobson.

Then, more men came forward last month. Some alleged Mr Jeffries’ assistants had injected them in the penis with what they were told was liquid Viagra.

After the BBC’s initial investigation was published last year, A&F announced it was opening an independent investigation into the allegations.

Mr Jeffries served as the CEO of the business from 1992 until 2014, when he stepped down following declining sales and left with a superannuation package valued at around $25m (£20.5m).

He is next set to appear in court on 12 December.