Jed York, the San Francisco 49ers owner and co-owner of Rangers and Leeds United, has been sentenced to jail in Ohio following his arrest for soliciting prostitution.
The 45-year-old pleaded no contest to two misdemeanour charges - disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools - at Columbiana County Municipal Court on Monday.
York was sentenced to one day in jail on each charge, to be served concurrently, and received credit for time already served. He was fined $150 for disorderly conduct and $1,000 for possessing criminal tools, totalling $1,150. An expungement request filed the same day to seal the records was denied.
According to US media reports citing court documents, York responded to an advertisement on a prostitution website placed by undercover officers from a Human Trafficking Task Force in Ohio. The documents state he arranged to have sexual activity with a woman in exchange for $140 (£103).
York was arrested on Sunday morning at the Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community in East Palestine, Ohio, near where he was born and raised in Youngstown. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
The original charge of engaging in prostitution was reduced to disorderly conduct as part of a plea deal, while the possessing criminal tools charge is understood to refer to the phone used to reply to the advert.
Rangers and Leeds United have both said they will not be commenting. The 49ers issued a brief statement: “As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time.”
York became a co-owner of Rangers through 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm linked to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, where he serves as chief executive and principal owner. In May 2025, a consortium led by US businessman Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises completed a takeover of Rangers after acquiring a controlling 51% stake in the Scottish Premiership club. Cavenagh became Rangers chairman, with 49ers Enterprises taking a leading role in the club’s ownership.
As an NFL owner, York is subject to league policies. The NFL said: “We are aware of the matter which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy.”