Jed York, the co-owner of NFL's San Francisco 49ers, as well as Scottish football clubs Leeds United and Rangers, has received a jail sentence and fines following a police operation targeting prostitution.
Court documents from the Columbiana Municipal Court, released by the East Palestine police department, indicate that the executive responded to an advertisement on a dedicated website, placed by an undercover operation team combating human trafficking. According to the investigation, the businessman arranged for intimate services for a fee of $140.
During the court proceedings, York opted for a no-contest plea regarding the charges. As part of a plea deal, the initial charges were downgraded to public disorder and possession of items used in the commission of a crime—referring to the phone used to arrange the meeting. The court sentenced him to one day in jail for each charge, to be served concurrently, taking into account the time already spent in custody, alongside fines of $150 and $1,000. A request by his defence to seal the case documents from public access was denied by the court on the same day.
The American investment firm 49ers Enterprises, led by York, acquired a controlling stake in Leeds United in 2023 following a series of investments that began in 2018. Additionally, in May 2025, he was part of a consortium with businessman Andrew Cavenagh that completed a deal to buy a 51% stake in Rangers. There have been no official comments from representatives of Leeds and Rangers, while the San Francisco 49ers stated they are addressing the legal issue. The NFL has also initiated an internal review concerning potential violations of the owners' personal conduct policy.
