49ers owner Jed York responded to undercover ad on prostitution website, police say
San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York responded to an ad on a “known prostitution website” using the pseudonym “Joe” before his arrest in an East Palestine, Ohio, mobile home park on Sunday morning, according to an incident report from the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.
Police used an undercover advertisement to set up a meeting with York, who responded to the ad on Saturday, and then again later that day. The undercover officer posing as a woman didn’t respond either time.
York’s next message came at 9:11 a.m. on Sunday when he texted that he was driving in from Boardman, Ohio, about 15 miles north. The two negotiated a price, $160 for one hour of “full service sexual activity,” according to the report, and York was directed to a fictitious lot number in the mobile home park.
Driving an Avis rental car, York was seen arriving in the mobile home park. When he couldn’t find the lot number, he went back onto the main road, where he was stopped by police. According to the report, a test text message showed that York’s phone had been used to set up the meeting. Police seized the phone and the $160.
York, who is from the Youngstown, Ohio, area, had an Ohio driver’s license. During his text exchange with the undercover officer, York said he had a California phone number because he used to live there but that he doesn’t anymore, according to the report.
He was booked Sunday morning and initially charged with engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. The latter charge can apply to items designed or adapted for criminal use, such as a cell phone. York appeared in court Monday morning and pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools, both misdemeanors. He was sentenced to two days in jail and fined $1,150.
York had his cell phone returned and forfeited the $160 in cash to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of an agreement by both parties.
The Athletic reached out to York’s attorney for comment Tuesday morning and will update this story if he responds.
The NFL said in a statement Monday that it is reviewing the situation under the personal conduct policy, which applies to all league members, including owners. The NFL did not discipline New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft after he was charged in 2019 with two misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution, charges that were later dropped. Late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was suspended for six games and fined $500,000 after pleading guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated in 2014.
York filed for divorce from his wife, Danielle Belluomini York, in May, according to Santa Clara Superior Court documents. The case is still active.
The York family took control of the 49ers in 2000 when, following a corruption case in Louisiana, then-owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. ceded the franchise to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York.
Jed York began working under his father, acting owner John York, in the early 2000s and in 2008 became the franchise’s CEO, which involved running the team’s day-to-day activities. In 2024, he acquired enough of his mother’s stake in the team to become the principal owner.
Jed York and 49ers Enterprises are also co-owners of the Leeds United soccer club in the Premier League and of the Scottish Premiership team Rangers F.C.