NFL on Patriots owner Robert Kraft: ‘We will take appropriate action’

Feb. 25 (UPI) — The National Football League on Monday addressed its personal conduct policy, which has received renewed attention after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was implicated in a Florida prostitution sting.

The NFL released a statement about the policy, saying it will be applied equally to everyone in the NFL — including team owners.

“We are seeking a full understanding of the facts, while ensuring that we do not interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation. We will take appropriate action as warranted based on the facts,” the NFL said.

The policy led Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay to be fined $500,000 and suspended six games in 2014 for drug charges.

Kraft was charged last week as part of a wide-ranging sting involving multiple South Florida parlors. Boston-area billionaire John W. Childs, a neighbor of Kraft’s, has also been charged as part of the same investigation.

An arrest warrant for Kraft is expected as soon as Monday. Childs, 77, has not been arrested, WBTS-TV reported, but has denied wrongdoing.

“The accusation of solicitation of prostitution is totally false. I have retained a lawyer,” Childs told Bloomberg.

Kraft has also denied participating in illegal activity. About 100 men will be charged as a result of the sting operation, authorities said.

“We are working in conjunction with numerous jurisdictions and local agencies to try to arrest all subjects we have active charges on,” Vero Beach, Fla., police spokesman Bradley Kmetz said. “We encourage people who have arrest warrants to turn themselves in.”

Kraft and Childs are neighbors in Chestnut Hills, Mass., a Boston suburb.

Childs started his firm in 1995 and has invested $3.7 billion of equity capital into more than 50 businesses.

Childs, who lives seasonally in Indian River Shores, Fla., has donated millions to Republican political candidates, including former House Speaker Paul Ryan and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Police said Kraft visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Fla., about 80 miles north of Miami, on two occasions in which he paid for prostitutes.

Selah Freedom CEO and co-founder Elizabeth Melendez Fisher commended authorities for breaking up the multi-national human trafficking ring. Selah Freedom advocates against sex trafficking.

“Our society has been groomed to believe that these are willing women,” Fisher said. “The world needs to know that this is not a choice. Little girls have been groomed their entire lives and have no way out. They have been manipulated and sexually abused from a young age, eventually leading to their coercion into prostitution against their will.”

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