15 men arrested on prostitution charges in Shelby County, including sports figure

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. (WAKA) – Fifteen men have been arrested on prostitution charges in Shelby County, including a former sportswriter who has a position with Yea Alabama, which handles NIL for the University of Alabama.

Robert Aaron Suttles is one of the people charged. Court records say on Thursday, July 23, Suttles agreed to engage in sexual activity in exchange for $100. Action 8 News has learned that he has been released on bond.

Suttles is a former sportswriter for The Tuscaloosa News and The Athletic. He is the director of content for Yea Alabama, which released this statement to AL.com:

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

On Thursday, July 23, investigators with the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted a human trafficking operation in north Shelby County. It says the 15 people have been arrested on charges of prohibited activities. One of them was also charged with two counts of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

“We will not tolerate the victimization of vulnerable women here in Shelby County. 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,” Lt. Clayton Smith, who commands the task force, said.

The suspects in this photograph from the task force are listed as:

(Top: Left to Right) – Rodrick Hicks, Quinton Lee, George Brand, Steven Crews, Arthur McClendon.
(Middle: Left to Right) – Tremele Perry, Wayne Leslie, Efrem Miller, Robert Suttles, Naushad Sundrani.
(Bottom: Left to Right) – Jacob Hollingsworth, Prudhvi Paladugu, Carlos Barba-Sanchez, Bruno Reyes, Carter Lundstrom.

Photo from Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force

The task force says Hollingsworth is the suspect who also faces drug charges.