Daniel Wolfram
The billionaire owner of the San Francisco 49ers was picked up by the police in a trailer park on Sunday.
The NFL season is still three weeks away as there are still more preseason games to be played. The drama has not even started yet.
However, a major bombshell just hit the league, and it has nothing to do with the sport itself.
It has to do with one of the 32 owners being arrested a long way from where his own team is located.
Arrested far from home
Usually an arrest report on a Sunday morning in Ohio is not headline-worthy. But when the arrested man is a billionaire businessman and owner of one of the most storied franchises in the National Football League, that becomes front-page news.
Jed York, owner of the San Francisco 49ers, was arrested in rural Ohio in a trailer park community. According to the arrest report, York was trying to “have sexual activity with a female in exchange for $140.”
He was also arrested on charges of “possessing criminal tools,” although it has not been clarified what the definition of criminal tools entail.
Busted by special agent
Jed York is believed to be worth more than $500 million while his family’s estate, through which he came to own the 49ers, is estimated to be worth more than $8 billion.
York was arrested as part of a sting operation conducted by a local cop who is notorious for setting traps and specializes in catching “especially repugnant creatures.”
The owner of the 49ers responded to a fake ad that the cop had posted on a website where prostitution is advertised.
When York showed up at the trailer park in East Palestine, Ohio, he was met by the police who arrested him after noting that he “was found to have in his possession his cellular device which was used to arrange the criminal act,” according to the arrest filing.
York is recently divorced
Why Jed York was trying to pick up a prostitute so far away in rural Ohio remains a mystery, other than the obvious reasons.
He had been married to Danielle Belluomini since 2011, but filed for divorce in May.
The NFL hopes to resolve this matter internally. A spokesperson said the arrest “will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy.” The Niners expressed the same sentiment, adding that they “will not be providing any further comment at this time” on the arrest as it is a “legal matter, which has been resolved.”
Jed York pleaded no contest to the arrest charges, meaning that he will accept the court’s decision to punish him, so he does not officially have to admit his guilt.
The San Francisco 49ers start the season on September 11 against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. We will see if York accompanies the team on the trip and if he manages to stay out of jail.
