Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots football team, has been charged with two counts of soliciting a person to commit prostitution, after an elaborate sting operation in the US state of Florida.
Jupiter City police chief Daniel Kerr said that the charges come as the result of a months-long investigation into several day spas and massage parlours in central Florida, one of which Kraft is alleged to have frequented.
A video allegedly shows the 77-year-old in a room at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa receiving “paid acts”, and another video shows him being driven to the spa in question. While charges have been laid, he has not been arrested.
Kerr told a news conference that “our concern in this investigation centers around the possibility of victims of human trafficking.” You can see footage of the conference below:
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been charged with solicitation of prostitution.
Authorities, who set up hidden cameras at a day spa, said there’s video evidence of all of all of the suspects, including Kraft, participating in the alleged acts. https://t.co/goqz4D0jFD pic.twitter.com/P3wqCkMfwX
— ABC News (@ABC) February 22, 2019
A representative for Robert Kraft has made a statement denying any wrongdoing on his behalf, saying:
“We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.”
The Patriots owner is one of more than 100 people caught up in the sting operation. President Donald Trump, described as a long-time friend of Kraft’s, said that news of the arrest is “very sad”, adding “he’s proclaimed his innocence totally, but I’m very surprised to see it.”
The Patriots have not yet released an official statement.
