Former NFL Linebacker Adarius Taylor Arrested in Connection with 255-Person Human Trafficking Sting
Former NFL Linebacker Adarius Taylor Arrested in Connection with 255-Person Human Trafficking Sting

Published: May 19, 2025

Former NFL linebacker Adarius Taylor has been arrested in Florida as part of a massive human trafficking operation that resulted in the arrest of 255 people.

Taylor, 34, was charged with felony negligent child abuse without bodily harm and misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution, according to his arrest affidavit.

The retired athlete was arrested on May 8 after responding to an online escort advertisement. In a redacted video shared with PEOPLE, Taylor appears to be seen entering a private room where an undercover female detective was stationed.

According to the affidavit, Taylor asked for a massage, and when the undercover deputy asked if he wanted oral sex or sex first, Taylor left and was subsequently taken into custody.

Authorities then found Taylor's 6-year-old child in a parked Ford F-150 outside the location. The child, who has mental and medical issues, including epilepsy, is now with his mother.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, he said Taylor "must have hit one too many people" while he played in the NFL, adding that the former player made a lot of mistakes" and left his child in the car when he went to do the operation."

Taylor played in the NFL for seven seasons, playing for the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In a press conference, Sheriff Judd described the operation as having three components: human trafficking, child predator component, and an illegal immigration component.

Taylor's arrest is part of a larger human trafficking sting in Polk County, Fla., over a nine-day period, titled "Fool Around and Find Out."

This news comes as other sports-related news is making headlines, including NHL referee Chris Rooney getting hit in the eye during a scary incident and WNBA investigating alleged racist and hateful comments towards Angel Reese.

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