Inside the Investigation That Led to Prostitution Charges Against Robert Kraft

How a tip on suitcases led authorities to a months-long investigation that uncovered a network of spas that were allegedly fronts for prostitution

Over the next eight months, a sprawling investigation spilled into neighboring cities and counties, outlining a network of spas that authorities describe as brothels where women worked in poor conditions. One of those locations was Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Fla., where prosecutors charged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft with two counts of soliciting prostitution, acts they say were caught on video surveillance. Mr. Kraft was one of 25 men charged in Jupiter, a slice of a broader operation in which more than 100 across the area were charged.

.. The story of how authorities wound up in a position to accuse Mr. Kraft and others begins with an unusual decision Mr. Snyder made when he first received word about the suitcases. The traditional approach would be to send in an undercover officer to determine if prostitution is taking place, arrest the people involved and “bang, it’s over,” Mr. Snyder says.

Instead, authorities mounted a more ambitious investigation that found Chinese immigrant women were working in slave-like conditions as sex workers at several South Florida spas.

Other clues about the wrongdoing included the women working at the spas only speaking dialects of Chinese. Masseuses are licensed in Florida after an exam that is only administered English and Spanish. Many of the licenses, authorities determined, were fraudulent.

Subpoenas gave police access to bank accounts and other financial records of the spa operators. Mr. Snyder says the records showed upward of $20 million was flowing back and forth to parties in China.

As the investigation broadened, police also obtained warrants allowing them to install covert surveillance equipment, including video cameras, inside the spas. And authorities grew concerned that the women working at the spas were victims: The women, police found, never left the establishments. When they did leave, they were shuttled to other locations, broadening the investigation beyond Bridge Day Spa. They cooked on hot plates and had no access to showers. There was no evidence they were receiving health care of any kind.

This latter part was especially concerning as they witnessed what was happening inside the spas. The women were engaged in sexual acts with an average of 15 men per day, without condoms.

Prosecutors allege they saw Mr. Kraft, 77 years old, on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 enter Orchids of Asia Day Spa, where he paid in cash and received sex acts. The latter date was the day Mr. Kraft’s Patriots played the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game in Kansas City. Flight records show Mr. Kraft’s plane left Palm Beach International early in the afternoon on Jan. 20 and arrived in Kansas City about 2½ hours later.

Mr. Kraft faces two counts of soliciting a prostitute, a misdemeanor, which could result in a year of jail time, a $5,000 fine, 100 hours of community services and a class on prostitution and human trafficking. Dave Aronberg, the state attorney for Palm Beach County, said jail time is unlikely for defendants without a criminal record.