In late February, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been charged
with two counts of soliciting
prostitution after visiting the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Juniper, FL on two occasions.
The charges come after months of investigation into a sex trafficking
ring centered around several day spas and massage parlors within the state
suspected of providing prostitution services.
Kraft visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa on Saturday, January 19, and
spends approximately 40 minutes and pays for a sexual act, according to
surveillance camera footage obtained by Juniper Police Department. The
following day—which is the day of the 2019 AFC Championship Playoff
Game between the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs—Kraft returns to
the spa for 14 minutes and paid for another sexual act that was filmed.
According to Florida law, solicitation is considered a first-degree misdemeanor,
punishable by a maximum one-year jail sentence, a fine not exceeding $5,000,
and mandatory 100 hours of community service, and take education courses
on the adverse effects of human trafficking and prostitution.
So far, as many as 200 individuals have been charged and around $2 million
worth of assets have been seized. However, sex trafficking cases are quite
complex due to the fact sometimes suspects and victims are typically one
and the same.
On March 18, the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s office offered
Kraft and 24 other individuals a diversion deal. If the men plead guilty
and meet specific conditions, the division deal would seal the evidence
and expunge their cases. However, sources close to Kraft believe he will
not plead guilty.
A couple of days later, however, Kraft’s lawyers filed a motion to
suppress the video evidence in the case. The reason is to ensure the surveillance
video will not be released if the Patriots owner doesn’t reach a
plea deal. His legal team questions how law enforcement obtained probable
cause to initially collect the evidence.
For more information about prostitution in Florida,
contact our
Daytona Beach criminal defense attorney at the
Law Offices of Robert Stepniak today.