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New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft To Be Charged With Soliciting Prostitution

February 22, 2019

Police in Florida are charging New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft with two counts of soliciting another to commit prostitution – and they say they have video evidence of what happened inside the spa.

The charges stem from a months-long investigation.

Kraft, 77, is one of 25 men police in Jupiter, Florida plan to charge with misdemeanor counts of solicitation. Police said during a press conference around noon Friday, February 22 that an arrest warrant for Kraft would be issued shortly.

“Obviously our concern in this investigation centers around a possibility of victims of human trafficking. The appearance may be of that,” said Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr, according to video posted online WPTV-TV Channel 5 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The investigation includes video from undercover officers, the chief said.

“Much of our evidence comes directly from the businesses. Also from body warrant cameras of our officers. And also surveillance that we have been conducting over the last several months,” Chief Kerr said.

The spa charged men $59 for a half-hour, $79 for a half-hour, said Jupiter Police Detective Andrew Sharp, the lead investigator in the case.

Police said they have video evidence for all 25 men to be charged.

“The video that we obtained, it shows the act that took place. On every gentleman that you have a list of, the acts that took place is recorded on that video,” Detective Sharp said.

Sharp made it even clearer answering a follow-up question.

“The question was:  Does the video contain Mr. Kraft inside receiving the alleged acts? The answer to that is yes,” Sharp said.

A spokesman for Kraft issued a statement denying the charge, according to multiple media reports.

“We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further,” the Kraft spokesman said.

Kraft bought the New England Patriots in 1994. Earlier this month the team won its sixth Super Bowl.

Kraft is a widower. His wife Myra died of ovarian cancer in 2011, at age 68.

Jupiter is a town of about 65,000 people in northern Palm Beach County, about 16 miles north of the city of Palm Beach.