BREAKING: Patriots Owner Robert Kraft Charged for Soliciting Prostitution from Human Trafficking Operation
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been named as a person of interest in connection with an investigation into prostitution and human trafficking in Florida.
WPTV reports that Kraft is one of 100 men who are being placed under arrest. Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr told reporters that Kraft was caught on video during a sting operation investigators were conducting at the time, and he will be charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution.
Kraft’s legal team has offered a response to the news:
Spokesperson for Kraft: “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.”
— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) February 22, 2019
The charges against Kraft stem from a multi-pronged investigation into massage parlors suspected of being fronts for a human trafficking ring. Reports indicate that the ring worked by enticing women in China with promises of jobs to come work in the United States, but were then forced to act as sex workers at the spa and weren’t allowed to leave.
Orchids of Asia Day Spa and several other parlors around Jupiter, FL have been shut down after several months of investigations were conducted into the “sexual servitude” that allegedly took place.
This story is breaking and we will add more details as they become available.
UPDATE – 2:20 p.m. ET: The NFL has offered a statement on the matter:
NFL statement: “The NFL is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments.” https://t.co/mZ0PvJmVmU
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) February 22, 2019
Watch above, via MSNBC.
[Photo via Getty Images]
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