Olivia R. February 25, 2019
Boston Uprising’s billionaire owner Robert Kraft was charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution as part of the Martin County Sheriff Department’s major human trafficking investigation.
Kraft faces two charges after visiting the Orchids of Asia day spa twice, according to Detective Andrew Sharp. This was one of five day spas targeted as part of the investigation, which resulted in the arrest of 100 men. The allegations are supported by video evidence.
The eight-month investigation began in July 2018, when investigators were tipped off through a complaint filed by the Health Department, said Martin County Sheriff William Snyder. The prostitutes were averaging eight clients per day with no days off, and were “sleeping in the massage parlors, with no access to transportation.” Snyder stated that the prostitutes were not allowed to leave the premise, and were often seen cooking on the back steps of the business.
The 100 “johns” who solicited the prostitutes for “forced graphic sexual acts” are possibly just the “tip of the iceberg,” Snyder said.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were about 400 human trafficking cases in Florida in 2018. Illicit massage businesses were the third most common venue for sex trafficking in the state.
Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots, was one of the first to announce he was buying into the Overwatch League in 2017. Kraft was instrumental in inspiring other potential franchise owners to follow suit.
The 77-year-old is currently ranked 79 on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans, with a net worth of $6.6 billion. Florida papers stated that he owns a double apartment in Palm Beach, where the day spas were located.
If convicted, Kraft can face up to a year in prison for his second offense.