Former NFL linebacker Adarius Taylor was among the more than 250 people arrested in a massive human-trafficking sting conducted in Florida, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed via the Orlando Sentinel.
Taylor, 34, who appeared in games for the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns in seven seasons, charged with felony negligent child abuse without bodily harm and misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution charges in the multi-agency “Operation Fool Around and Find Out,” the department confirmed. The retired linebacker is accused of bringing a 6-year-old to the sting site and leaving the child in the car while he went inside, according to Sheriff Grady Judd.
“Obviously he must have hit one too many people as a linebacker, because his brain cells are scrambled,” Judd said via the Orlando Sentinel.
The 6-year-old was immediately taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families, which was among the agencies that participated in the sting. A total 255 people, including 36 illegal immigrants, were busted during the Florida sting, which lasted nine days between May 2 and May 10.
The arrested individuals included 141 charged with soliciting prostitutes, 93 accused of offering to commit prostitution, 10 charged with offenses related to prostitution such as aiding and abetting or transporting prostitutes and 11 who traveled to meet a minor for sex or other child crimes, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Four individuals were identified as possible human-trafficking victims who offered services, Judd confirmed.
Taylor recorded 140 tackles, five tackles for loss, three QB hits, two sacks, three forced fumbles, six passes defensed and one fumble recovery during his seven NFL seasons.
