A State Grand Jury has indicted Mikal Smith, 43, in connection with an alleged prostitution ring in Tempe, Arizona. Mikal was arrested on September 3, 2020. His co-defendant, Aprel Rasmussen, is facing similar charges. Mikal is the son of former NFL coach Lovie Smith.
Lovie is the current University of Illinois head coach and he is the former NFL Chicago Bears head coach. Mikal coached with his father for several seasons in the NFL.
Mikal is facing prostitution, sex trafficking, conspiracy, illegally conducting an enterprise, money laundering, pandering, and threatening or intimidating charges. Prosecutors say that between December 2018 and September 2019 Mikal and Aprel operated and maintained an illegal prostitution enterprise in Arizona.
Prosecutors say Mikal and Aprel allegedly induced and encouraged an adult female victim to “engage in acts of prostitution for over two months.” Mikal is accused of using surveillance and threats of retaliation to keep the victim under his control.
Mikal played football at the University of Arizona in the 1990s.
