The content director for the University of Alabama’s name, image and likeness (NIL) collective Yea Alabama was arrested last week for solicitation of prostitution during a human trafficking operation in Shelby County, Alabama.

Robert Aaron Suttles was one of 15 people arrested as a part of the operation, which was carried out by the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force. According to court records, he is accused of having paid $100 in exchange for a sexual encounter and has been suspended from his role with Yea Alabama as a result.

“The individual is suspended and is not performing any work for us,” Yea Alabama said in a statement to ALdotcom. “The matter involves personal conduct unconnected to any YeaAlabama business. A legal proceeding is pending and our internal review is ongoing, so we have no further comment.”

Lt. Clayton Smith, commander of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force also spoke via WBRC after the operation was carried out.

“We will not tolerate the victimization of vulnerable women here in Shelby County,” Smith said. “I believe that no woman wakes up each morning and chooses to sell their bodies because they just want to. There is always an underlying reason that they feel they have to do this to live and have no other option. We have a duty to protect them just like any other citizen. I want to thank the investigators for their passion and work in this operation.”

Suttles has been with Yea Alabama since 2023 after stints on the Alabama reporting beat for The Tuscaloosa News and The Athletic. The website for Yea Alabama no longer lists him on the staff page.