Jed York, a co-owner of Premier League club Leeds United, has been sentenced to a single day in jail in Ohio after being caught in a police sting attempting to pay for sex, according to court documents and local law enforcement.
York, 46, who also serves as the principal owner of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers and holds an ownership stake in Scottish club Rangers, was taken into custody on Sunday at a trailer park in East Palestine, Ohio. He had responded to an advertisement on a website known for facilitating prostitution in Columbiana County, where he allegedly agreed to pay a woman $140 in exchange for sexual activity, according to court records cited by the California Post.
When York traveled to the trailer park to meet the woman, he was intercepted by an agent from the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. Investigators noted that York was carrying the cellphone he had used to arrange the encounter, which was cited in the court documents as part of the evidence against him.
York was initially charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors later reduced the charge to disorderly conduct. He ultimately pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond and was sentenced to one day in jail, which was satisfied by time already served when he entered his plea on Monday morning. He was also ordered to pay a $1,150 fine.
As part of the plea agreement, York had his cellphone returned to him, while $160 in cash was seized and directed to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. He also completed an online educational course as part of the resolution. According to SFGate, York has since requested that the case be expunged from his record.
The arrest has drawn attention from the NFL, which confirmed it is monitoring the situation. In a statement to Ohio outlet WKBN, the league said it was "aware of the matter, which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy."
York, a native of Youngstown, Ohio — not far from where he was arrested — has been married to his wife, Danielle Belluomini, for more than a decade. The couple have two sons, Jaxon and Brixton.
York has been a prominent figure in American football ownership circles for nearly two decades. He assumed day-to-day control of the 49ers from his parents in 2008 and became the franchise's principal owner in 2024. His early tenure atop the organization was marked by struggles, but the team has emerged as a perennial contender since the hiring of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in 2017.
Under York's ownership, the 49ers have reached the Super Bowl three times, falling short in the 2012 season under then-coach Jim Harbaugh, and again in the 2019 and 2023 seasons under Shanahan and Lynch. York also spearheaded the construction of Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, which opened in 2014 when the franchise relocated from San Francisco. The venue has since hosted two Super Bowls, a FIFA World Cup match, and a College Football Playoff championship game.
York's broader sporting portfolio includes his co-ownership stake in Leeds United, the recently promoted English Premier League side, as well as a stake in Scottish giants Rangers. Neither club has issued a public statement regarding the incident. The Independent reported that it had reached out to the 49ers organization for comment.
Based on reporting from The Independent.