Leeds and Rangers co-owner Jed York arrested in prostitution sting at US trailer park

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York has been snared in a prostitution sting at a US trailer park.

York, the co-owner of Leeds United and Rangers FC, was arrested on Sunday morning at a mobile home community in East Palestine, Ohio, near where he was born and raised in Youngstown.

The NFL supremo was initially charged with engaging in prostitution but has since pleaded no contest to misdemeanour charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools.

York was charged with possessing criminal tools for using his phone to respond to an undercover online prostitution advertisement, according to prosecutors.

The businessman was released after posting a $5,000 (£3,666) bond.

York was sentenced to one day in jail for both offences to be served concurrently and was credited with one day served when he pleaded no contest Monday morning.

He also was fined $1,150 (£843).

Records also show York had his mobile phone returned to him and $160 (£117) that was seized was to be given to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the plea agreement.

York also completed an online course.

Columbiana County prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said most of these types of prostitution cases typically end in plea agreements.

"Each case is looked at individually and for specific facts of the conduct, what evidence the police provide, and input from the arresting officer," he said.

"You also have to factor in [the] criminal history of the defendant, and whether or not they have committed these types of offences in the past, and importantly, what the judges will allow."

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The NFL issued a statement saying the American football league was aware of the arrest and would review it under the personal conduct policy.

Owners are subject to possible fines or suspensions for violating the personal conduct policy.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was investigated but not punished by the league after he was arrested in Florida in 2019 for allegedly paying for sex with a woman at a massage parlour.

The charge was later dropped after a court ruled police violated the rights of Kraft and the other customers when they secretly installed video cameras inside massage rooms at the spa.

The San Francisco 49ers said in a statement: "As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time."

York took over day-to-day control of the 49ers from his parents in 2008. He became the team's principal owner in 2024.

After some initial struggles under York's leadership, the team has been a consistent contender since hiring coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in 2017.

The Niners have made the Super Bowl three times under York's leadership, losing in the 2012 season under coach Jim Harbaugh and the 2019 and 2023 seasons under Shanahan and Lynch.

York also oversaw the building of Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The team moved from San Francisco to the new stadium in 2014. The stadium has hosted two Super Bowls, a World Cup and a College Football Playoff title game.

(c) Sky News 2026: Leeds and Rangers co-owner Jed York arrested in prostitution sting at US trailer park