Mike Jeffries, the former long-time CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, will face trial on federal sex trafficking and prostitution charges after a judge declared him mentally competent. The decision comes after months of legal uncertainty regarding his health, as his defense attorneys had previously argued that his cognitive decline, specifically symptoms associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s, rendered him unable to participate in his own defense.

Prosecutors successfully argued that Jeffries is capable of understanding the legal proceedings against him. The case centers on allegations that Jeffries and his partners operated a sex trafficking scheme that exploited young men. While the defense had sought to delay or dismiss the proceedings based on his medical condition, the court’s ruling clears the path for the trial to move forward. The legal proceedings are expected to address the severity of the charges, which include allegations of coercion and abuse, while the defense is likely to continue monitoring Jeffries' health as the trial progresses.