Billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been charged with soliciting prostitution at a spa in southern Florida, police said.
Kraft, 77, is one of 25 suspected johns picked up as part of a six-month investigation into sex trafficking at massage parlors in Florida's India River County. The ages of the men range from 24 to 84, with most of them in their 50's and 60's. Kraft is specifically charged with two counts of soliciting someone to commit prostitution during two separate visits to the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in the city of Jupiter.
During a press conference, police said there is video evidence of Kraft receiving "paid acts" in a room at the spa, plus footage of him being driven to the spa. The incidents took place approximately one month ago, and there are no immediate plans to release the footage. "Charges have been filed, but he has not been arrested," stated Jupiter police spokeswoman Kristin Rightler.
Kraft built a $6.6 billion fortune from a paper manufacturing conglomerate and bought the New England Patriots for $172 million in 1994. Since then, the NFL team has played in ten Super Bowls and scored six victories, including this year. "We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further," a spokesperson for Kraft said.
Kraft is the CEO of The Kraft Group, a holding company for various businesses in professional sports, manufacturing and real estate development. In addition to the Patriots, Kraft owns Major League Soccer's New England Revolution and Gillette Stadium, where both teams play. His wife, Myra, died in 2011 at 68 following a battle with cancer.
