A former NFL linebacker was one of more than 250 people arrested in a massive human-trafficking sting in Florida, with three dozen illegal immigrants also busted, according to officials.
Adarius Taylor — who played seven NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns — was arrested last month as part of a multi-agency crackdown dubbed “Operation Fool Around and Find Out,” the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.
Taylor, 34, allegedly brought his 6-year-old to the sting site and left the child in the car when he went inside, Sheriff Grady Judd said, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Taylor, 34, was among the 250-plus busted in a Florida prostitution sting. Polk County Sheriffs Office
Taylor played his last NFL season in 2020 before he retired. Diamond Images/Getty Images“Obviously he must have hit one too many people as a linebacker, because his brain cells are scrambled,” Judd said.
The child was immediately taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families, which assisted with the operation.
The retired defender was among the 255 people — including 36 illegal immigrants — busted in the nine-day police operation between May 2 and May 10 in the Sunshine State.
Taylor was charged with felony negligent child abuse without bodily harm and misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution charges, according to his arrest affidavit.
Of the 255 arrested, 141 were charged with soliciting prostitutes, 93 with offering to commit prostitution, 10 with offenses related to prostitution such as aiding and abetting or transporting prostitutes and 11 with traveling to meet a minor for sex or other child sex crimes, police said.
Four people were identified as potential human trafficking victims and offered services, according to Judd.
Taylor last played in the pros in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers, where he started in two games.
