Jed York jailed in Ohio after pleading no contest to prostitution-related charges
Jed York, 46, co-owner of Leeds United and Rangers and principal owner of the San Francisco 49ers, appeared in Columbiana County Municipal Court in Ohio on Monday and was jailed after pleading no contest to charges connected to soliciting prostitution. He was convicted of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools and received concurrent one-day jail terms with credit for time served.
York is chief executive and principal owner of the San Francisco 49ers and became a co-owner of Rangers through 49ers Enterprises. 49ers Enterprises first invested in Leeds United in 2018 and assumed full control of the club in 2023; in May 2025 a consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises completed a takeover of Rangers after acquiring a controlling 51% stake, with Cavenagh becoming Rangers chairman and 49ers Enterprises taking a leading role. The 49ers were part of the US consortium that took control of Rangers last year, and York is not involved in the day-to-day running of the club.
Court records show the case was brought by East Palestine Police Department and filed at Columbiana County Municipal Court on Monday, where York pleaded no contest at an arraignment hearing and was found guilty. In the Ohio legal system, a no contest plea means a defendant accepts a conviction without formally admitting guilt.
York was sentenced to one day in jail on each offence, to be served concurrently, and was given credit for time already served. He was fined $150 for disorderly conduct and $1,000 for possessing criminal tools.
An expungement request was filed and denied on the same day, according to court records. This is a request to have records destroyed or sealed so they are not accessible to the public.
US media reports and other court documents state that York responded to an advertisement on a prostitution website placed by undercover officers from a Human Trafficking Task Force in Ohio. Those documents say he arranged to have sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $140 (£103).
The original charge was reduced in a plea deal to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools, a charge described in court documents as thought to refer to the phone used to reply to the advert. Rangers and Leeds have both said they will not be commenting on the matter, and the 49ers said: "As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time."
"We are aware of the matter which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy," the NFL said, indicating the league will examine the case under its existing procedures.
