The son of former National Football League coach Lovie Smith is accused of running a prostitution ring, prosecutors said.
According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Mikal Lee Smith, 43, a former University of Arizona football player, was indicted Aug. 24 by a grand jury on charges related to prostitution, sex trafficking and money laundering, The Arizona Republic reported. He faces nine counts in the indictment, the newspaper reported.
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said on Thursday that Mikal Smith was indicted “in connection with an alleged prostitution ring.” The indictment was handed down after an investigation by the Chandler Police Department, KNXV reported.
Smith was arrested at his Tempe residence on the same day of his indictment and was booked into jail, according to court documents. He was released Thursday after posting $100,000 bail, the Republic reported.
A State Grand Jury has indicted Mikal Lee Smith, of Chandler, in connection with an alleged prostitution ring in Arizona. His co-defendant, Aprel Mae, is facing similar charges. Smith is accused of using constant surveillance and threats of retaliation to keep the victim (1/3) pic.twitter.com/PqSnQDqXf2
— Mark Brnovich (@GeneralBrnovich) September 3, 2020
According to a news release, Smith and Aprel Mae Rasmussen operated and maintained an illegal prostitution enterprise in Maricopa County between December 2018 and September 2019, KNXV reported.
The two are accused of encouraging a victim to engage in acts of prostitution, the Republic reported. Smith is also accused of compelling Rasmussen to commit the same acts, the newspaper reported. He also was accused of threatening and intimidating Rasmussen and another victim.
Mikal Smith was on his father’s staff from 2010 to 2012, when Lovie Smith coached the Chicago Bears, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He later worked with his father for two years as safeties coach when the elder Smith was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Lovie Smith has been the head football coach at the University of Illinois since 2016, the newspaper reported.
Mikal Smith played at Arizona for two seasons before earning his degree at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, according to the Sun-Times.
He will be arraigned Sept. 10, the Republic reported.
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