Oct 22 (Reuters) - Michael Jeffries, former CEO of

Abercrombie & Fitch ( ANF ), was arrested by federal agents

investigating allegations that he ran a sex-trafficking

operation, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing

people familiar with the matter.

He was arrested on Tuesday in Florida as part of an

investigation being led by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New

York, the report said.

Abercrombie & Fitch ( ANF ) declined to comment to Reuters queries,

while Jeffries was not immediately reachable.

Last year, a group of once-aspiring Abercrombie & Fitch ( ANF ) male

models sued the retailer and the former CEO alleging that the

company had benefited from a sex-trafficking operation led by

Jeffries.

The proposed class action filed by former model David

Bradberry in Manhattan federal court claims Jeffries forced

models to take drugs and engage in sexual acts with him and

others for the chance to be featured in Abercrombie's

provocative catalogs.

The lawsuit had alleged that company officers knew about the

conduct and Abercrombie paid settlements to people who accused

Jeffries of sexual abuse or harassment.

Jeffries, who was CEO from 1992 to 2014, was credited with

turning around the retailer into a successful teen apparel maker

known for its cologne-filled stores and ads featuring semi-nude

models. He, however, resigned amid criticism that he had failed

to keep pace with the tastes of teen shoppers.