New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been officially charged with first degree solicitation of a prostitute in Florida on Monday.
His scheduled court date is April 24. Kraft does not need to appear; his lawyer can appear for him.
The 77-year-old owner has been charged with soliciting a prostitute in Florida as part of a crackdown on sex trafficking. as a result of a six-month investigation, and more are expected. Ten spas have been closed from Palm Beach to Orlando, and several people charged with sex trafficking have been taken into custody.
Police said they secretly planted undercover cameras in targeted massage parlors and recorded the interactions between men and the female employees.
The individuals named as having solicited prostitutes could be facing either a first- or second-degree misdemeanor for each count. A second-degree charge carries up to a 60-day jail sentence and a $500 fine; a first-degree charge carries up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Earlier Monday, the NFL said it will handle Kraft’s case as it would any other issue under the league’s conduct policy.
The NFL said in a statement Monday that its personal conduct policy “applies equally to everyone in the NFL and it will handle “this allegation in the same way we would handle any issue under the policy.”
The league said it is “seeking a full understanding of the facts” and does not want to “interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation.” The NFL said it will “take appropriate action as warranted based on the facts.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell could fine or suspend Kraft from any activities involving the Super Bowl champions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.