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Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged as a 'john' in human trafficking/prostitution investigation

Posted at 12:34 PM, Feb 22, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-22 12:34:41-05

JUPITER, Fla. — In his Tuesday news conference about a major human trafficking investigation , Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said about 100 men would be arrested.

When asked about prominent people or celebrities, Snyder said, “There will be a newsmaker in this one.”

That newsmaker is Robert Kraft, billionaire businessman and owner of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

On Friday, Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr confirmed to WPTV that Kraft is one of 25 men being charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution.

He confirmed that there is video evidence of all of the men being charged.

When asked if he was surprised about the arrest of Kraft, Chief Kerr said, "We're as deeply stunned as anyone else."

According to a tweet by TMZ, Robert Kraft's spokesman said, “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.”

A friend of President Trump and frequent visitor to Mar-a-Lago, Kraft was in the area as recently as this past weekend, when he attended a fundraiser at The Breakers for the Everglades Foundation. Entertainment at the event included John Bon Jovi and Jimmy Buffet.

Kraft has dated actress Ricki Noel Lander, who is 39 years his junior, since 2012. He was previously married to Myra Hiatt from 1963 until her death in 2011.