KRAFT AMERICAN SLEAZE
Patriots owner faces prostitution rap in Florida human-trafficking sting
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s updated resume: Six Super Bowl rings. One prostitution ring.
Kraft, barely two weeks removed from his team’s latest NFL happy ending and a long way from “Deflategate,” was the biggest name among dozens of suspects implicated in a South Florida law enforcement sting.
The 77-year-old widower, who keeps a 17,000-square foot estate in Palm Beach, Fla., was twice caught on video paying women for sexual favors inside the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in nearby Jupiter — where the workers charged $59 for 30 minutes and $89 for a full hour, authorities said.
Kraft is worth a reported $6.6 billion.
“We’re as equally stunned as everyone else,” said Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr, adding there was also footage of the strip mall prostitutes performing sex acts on the white-haired NFL owner.
The spa’s large front window, in a stretch of small businesses featuring a nail salon and a Thai restaurant, advertises massage therapy and facials.
The sting operation ran from Jan. 18 to 22; the Patriots won in Kansas City on Jan. 20 to win the AFC championship and reach the Super Bowl.
It was unclear when Kraft allegedly stopped in at the supposed sex shop.
“We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity,” a Kraft spokesman said in a statement. “Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.”
Kraft was not arrested, with police instead expected to serve a warrant on his attorneys at some point in the future. Though he
could face up to 60 days in jail for the misdemeanor charge against him, a conviction would more likely include community service and attendance at a class on the horrors of sex trafficking.
“The NFL is aware of the ongoing law enforcement matter and will continue to monitor developments,” the league said in a statement.
An alphabetical list of the accused defendants released by police showed Kraft’s name wedged between suspects named Johnson and Lu, followed by his June 5, 1941, birthday.
Kraft’s previous scandals revolved around his powerquarterback house football team. Star Tom Brady was suspended in 2015 for “Deflategate” after taking the air out of footballs, and the “Spygate” mess found the Pats nailed for videotaping play-call signals on the Jets sideline during the 2007 season. Even this past season, Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman was suspended for four games after testing positive for PEDs.
Kraft purchased the Patriots in January 1994, with his team winning a half-dozen NFL titles since 2001 — the most recent a 13-3 victory over the Rams on Feb. 3.
“Well, it’s very sad,” said President Trump, whose friendship with Kraft goes back decades. “I was very surprised to see it. He’s proclaimed his innocence totally, and — I’m very surprised to see it.”
Kraft was one of 25 people reportedly captured on camera inside the spa during the probe into human trafficking and prostitution. And he wasn’t the only high-profile suspect: John Childs, the 77-year-old founder of the private equity firm J.W. Childs, was charged by cops in Vero Beach. Former Citigroup Inc. president and CEO John Havens was also accused.
NFL critics on social media were quick to rip the league for its wait-and-see approach on Kraft.
“Somewhere (Colin) Kaepernick is like: these owners didn’t want ME in the league?” tweeted Bleacher Report NFL columnist Mike Freeman.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the months-long sting targeting local spas and massage parlors. Authorities have also served warrants in Martin and Orange Counties as well as in Jupiter.
“Our concern in this investigation centers around victims of human trafficking,” said Kerr, adding that authorities are connecting with advocacy groups and interpreters to better help and understand those who were victimized.
Kraft was busted three days after Ruimei Li of Jupiter and Lixia Zhu of Stuart, Fla., identified as the alleged orchestrators of the rings with connections to New York and China, officials said. Police expect that roughly another 100 men will be hit with charges related to the probe in the law enforcement sweep.
Kraft’s wife Myra died in 2011 at the age of 68, and the septuagenarian owner later took up with blond bombshell Ricki Noel Lander — who at 39 is nearly half his age.