When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox Mr Kraft, 77, has been arrested and will be charged with two counts, police said at a news conference today. Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr said: “Robert Kraft is being charged with the same offences as the others, and that is soliciting another to commit prostitution. “Right now we have two [counts].” Two proprietors of Orchids of Asia Day Spa were arrested on Tuesday along with 25 people in the local and state investigation, which was focused on possible human trafficking, Mr Kerr said.<doc-sep>The state of policing 1 year after George Floyd's death A mural of George Floyd is shown in the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave on March 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Community members continue preparations during the third day in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with multiple counts of murder in the death of George Floyd. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Keilar rolls the tape on the Covid-19 'lab leak' theory Faulty redactions show more info seized in Giuliani investigation than previously disclosed WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani did an on-camera interview with One America News Network's Chanel Rion before talking to other journalists about Vice President Joe Biden and the news that Russian intelligence may have paid Taliban operatives to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Vigils & tributes to George Floyd one year since his murder ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Begun in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Here's what reported grand jury in Trump case may look like NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: People walk past the Trump Tower as the impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins in Washington on February 09, 2021 in New York City. After listening to nearly four hours of legal arguments, the Senate has voted on Tuesday to move ahead with the impeachment trial of former President Trump. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Report: US companies may have benefited from forced labor of Uyghurs WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the conflict in the Middle East from Cross- Hall of the White House on May 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Israel and Hamas announced that they would agree to a cease-fire, which will take into effect on Friday, following days of fighting that claimed more than 200 lives. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 26: A view of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light-rail yard where a mass shooting occurred on May 26, 2021 in San Jose, California. A VTA employee opened fire at the yard, with preliminary reports indicating nine people dead including the gunman. (Photo by Philip Pacheco/Getty Images) Interest in vaccinations increased after mask guidance, data says A healthcare worker prepares to administer a Pfizer/BioNTEch coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Ontario on December 14, 2020. - Ontario, Canada's most populous province and one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, had 1,940 new cases and 23 deaths on Monday. The province is expected to give its next doses to nursing home workers as a priority, according to media reports. (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS OSORIO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Never seen levels like this': Union president on airline passenger misconduct Memorial Day weekend will bring rain and cool air for much of the East New England Patriots owner has history of controversy (2019) (CNN) — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is facing charges of soliciting prostitution as part of a large-scale sex trafficking crackdown that has led to hundreds of arrest warrants in Florida, police said. The 77-year-old billionaire is among more than 100 people linked to several central Florida day spas and massage parlors suspected of being used for prostitution and targeted by law enforcement during a monthslong investigation. Police said Kraft visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, twice. Video footage shows him receiving “paid acts” in a room at the spa and surveillance video shows him being driven to the spa, police Chief Daniel Kerr said Friday. Authorities said they wouldn’t immediately release video or documentation. A spokesperson for Kraft has denied that he committed a crime. “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further,” the spokesperson said. Kristin Rightler, a Jupiter police spokeswoman, said Friday that Kraft has not been arrested. People wearing football jerseys and others were seen taking group photos and selfies outside the door of the Jupiter spa on Friday. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Football fans arrive to the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida on Friday. Another billionaire also charged John W. Childs – a billionaire and CEO of the private equity firm J.W. Childs Associates – is facing a charge of solicitation of prostitution in Vero Beach, Florida, about 50 miles north of Jupiter, police said. CNN has reached out to Childs for comment. Speaking with Bloomberg on Friday, Childs said he had not been contacted by police about the allegations. “The accusation of solicitation of prostitution is totally false,” Childs said. “I have retained a lawyer.” While all of those listed by Jupiter police, including Kraft, have allegedly been caught on video, it’s unclear whether there’s video of those named by other law enforcement agencies. Authorities in Martin, Palm Beach and Indian River counties began releasing the names of the more than 100 patrons linked to the investigation earlier this week. Their ages range from 19 to 84 years old, according to the Vero Beach police. Several employees, including those who managed some of the spas, have also been arrested. Police said they have been charged with racketeering, deriving support from proceeds of prostitution and engaging or maintaining a place of prostitution. What the charges mean for Kraft Kraft is being charged with two counts of soliciting someone to commit prostitution, police said. Mike Edmondson, a spokesman with the State Attorney’s Office in Palm Beach County, said the charges are second-degree misdemeanors and generally carry no more than a 60-day sentence in county jail. CNN legal analyst Paul Callan says the solicitation charge often carries another punishment as well. “They also have an interesting provision in Florida law that you have to complete 100 hours of community service and attend a prostitution and human trafficking awareness course,” Callan said. Callan said that it’s unusual for the “johns” to get arrested. Shared Hope International, a group working to stop sex trafficking, identifies “johns” as individuals who pay for “or trade something of value for sexual acts.” “Usually the prostitute gets arrested or the person who’s running the brothel,” Callan said. “So this is an unusual approach, to round up the ‘johns.’ You see it happening periodically in jurisdictions where there’s a major prostitution problem and he just got caught in the net.” What NFL has said so far “The NFL is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments,” the league said later Friday. The National Football League’s personal conduct policy includes the behavior of team owners. According to the policy, “Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from ‘conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in’ the NFL. This includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials, and employees of the league office, NFL Films, NFL Network, or any other NFL business.” It also states that owners are held to a “higher standard.” “Ownership and club or league management have traditionally been held to a higher standard and will be subject to more significant discipline when violations of the Personal Conduct Policy occur.” Kraft also owns a soccer team Kraft took ownership of the Patriots in January 1994. Since then, the NFL team has played in 10 Super Bowls, winning six of them, including this past season. Kraft also is CEO of The Kraft Group, a holding company of numerous family businesses including International Forest Products, as well as Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution. With his wife, Myra, he also oversaw the Robert and Myra Kraft Family Foundation and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. Myra Kraft passed away in 2011 at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer.<doc-sep>New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft faces misdemeanor charges of soliciting prostitution in Florida. Kraft was charged Friday on two counts of solicitation, police said. A law enforcement source told Yahoo Sports that video evidence prompted the charges against Kraft. In a statement, a spokesperson for Kraft said, “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.” Police say Kraft was swept up in expansive sting launched by multiple departments, aimed at breaking up an alleged prostitution and sex-trafficking ring at massage parlors in several counties in central Florida. The sting centered on multiple parlors and at least two women identified as co-conspirators in the operation. Kraft is alleged to have engaged in illegal activity at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa, located in Jupiter, in two different visits. In the broader investigation, police allege that some of the women were forced to become sex workers after obtaining work permits after emigrating from China. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy, after the NFL Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP) The probe also involved the execution of at least eight search warrants and the seizure of cash and property assets valued in the millions. Kraft’s charges, according to authorities, was centered on simple solicitation. Kraft, 77, has been the principal owner of the Patriots since 1994, shepherding the franchise to one of the best runs in NFL history. That has included six Super Bowl titles, including the latest in February. He’s revered in New England for saving the Patriots from moving out of the region, as well as his family’s myriad philanthropic endeavors. He’s regarded as the of the NFL’s elite owners, as shown by his selection to the NFL chairmen’s committee in August of 2016. That puts him in a select group of owners with Clark Hunt of the Chiefs, John Mara of the Giants, and Art Rooney II in Pittsburgh. “The NFL is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments,” the league said in a statement released Friday afternoon. Story continues Kraft’s wife, Myra, died in 2011. According to The Boston Globe, he has been in a relationship described as “on-again, off-again” with Ricki Noel Lander. Kraft denied in a statement in March of last year that he’s the biological father of Lander’s baby. More from Yahoo Sports: • Wetzel: How Nike fiasco could be a boon for Zion • Warriors win, no shock; Curry slam, big surprise • Megatron’s post-NFL career: Marijuana • Watch: NBA star’s wife makes him stop gaming<doc-sep>
UPDATE (Friday, 1:48 p.m.): ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Patriots owner Robert Kraft is “not the biggest name involved" in the Jupiter, Fla. sex sting. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is being charged with “soliciting prostitution” as part of “sex sting operation” in Florida. According to Treasure Coast Newspapers (via USA Today), Kraft is facing two counts for “paying for sexual services at Orchids of Asia Day Spa” in Jupiter, Fla. The spa was among 10 shut down in Orlando, Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast after a several-month investigation revealed women there were in “sexual servitude,” according to arrest records. Patriots owner Robert Kraft being charged with soliciting prostitution related to what FL police say is a massage parlor where women - who were told they were coming to US for legit jobs - were in fact held as virtual prisoners/sex workers. — Chris Jansing (@ChrisJansing) February 22, 2019 Martin County Sheriff says the women involved in human trafficking ring were given no days off. They averaged about 1,500 men a year. He says their hygiene was “minimal” at best @NBC10Boston — Perry Russom NBC10 Boston (@PerryNBCBoston) February 22, 2019 According to ESPN, Jupiter police say Kraft hasn’t been arrested and that “a warrant will be issued ... Jupiter police said details about the charges against Kraft will not be released until next week.” TMZ reports Kraft’s solicitation took place about “a month ago." BREAKING: Jupiter Police says New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is being charged with soliciting prostitution. — Ali Schmitz (@SchmitzMedia) February 22, 2019 #BREAKING - @Patriots owner Robert Kraft arrested in Jupiter in a sex sting operation, along with many others. This story developing.... — CBS4 Miami (@CBSMiami) February 22, 2019 USA Today reports Kraft was one of “at least 100 men” involved in the “human trafficking ring." A spokesperson says Kraft denies the allegations. “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.” ESPN reports the charges Kraft faces are “punishable with up to 60 days in jail, six months of probation and $500 in fines, according to Florida law.” List of those charges with solicitation of prostitution by @TownofJupiter. Robert Kraft on the list. @TCPalm pic.twitter.com/6eD0BJKLE0 — Leah Voss (@LeahVossVisuals) February 22, 2019 According to TMZ, the operation was investigating “human trafficking” over a period of about eight months. Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation -- including Homeland Security, the IRS, the Jupiter P.D., Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and more. Officials say the women accused of running the sex trafficking ring operated out of local spas which touted themselves as massage parlors. USA Today reports “acts were captured on surveillance video” and TMZ reports there is video evidence from body cams. The Boston Globe details what’s on the video. “The video that we obtained shows the act that took place,” the detective said. “On every gentleman . . . the act that took place is recorded on that video.” The detective said Kraft was driven to the spa by someone else on both occasions. NBC News: Police in Florida say they have video of Robert Kraft involved in acts with a prostitute as part of their investigation. https://t.co/0cgNNk5lit — Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) February 22, 2019 ESPN notes Kraft could be subject to discipline under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. Remember, Colts owner Jim Irsay received a six-game suspension and was fined $500,000 in 2014 after being arrested on drug charges. According to Adam Schefter, the NFL “is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments.” NFL statement on Robert Kraft: “The NFL is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments.” — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 22, 2019 According to the Associated Press, Kraft owns a home in “the Palm Beach area." Kraft also has been a regular visitor to Trump National Golf Club Mar-a-Lago, which is about 30 minutes from the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Fla. The 77-year-old Kraft is less than one month removed from celebrating his sixth Super Bowl title. The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 13-3, to win Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Ga. The six Lombardi Trophies ties the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most by a franchise in NFL history. Kraft just celebrated his 25th anniversary as the Patriots owner. He bought the franchise in 1994.