Mikal Lee Smith, a former University of Arizona football player and the son of former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, was indicted by a grand jury in Arizona on August 24 for a range of crimes related to prostitution, sex trafficking, and money laundering.
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said that Smith was indicted “in connection with an alleged prostitution ring.”
Smith, 43, is facing nine charges for crimes that were allegedly committed between December 2018 and September 2019, according to the indictment.
Brnovich said Smith and his co-defendant Aprel Mae Rasmussen are accused of participating in an enterprise that performed activities including prostitution, receiving the earnings of a prostitute, and pandering, a crime related to pimping. According to the indictment, Rasmussen was also among those whom Smith had “knowingly compelled, induced, or encouraged” to become a prostitute, as well as another unnamed woman.
Both Smith and Rasmussen were also indicted for money laundering in the first degree.
Smith often worked under his father, first as a quality control coach with the Chicago Bears and again as a safeties coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Smith was arrested at his Tempe residence on August 24 and booked into jail, according to court documents. He was released Thursday on a $100,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for September 10.
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