Billionaire equity firm owner John Childs is another big name allegedly involved in a prostitution sting in Florida.
Childs, 77, who lives part of the year in Indian River Shores, with his wife, Marlene, also 77, is wanted on a solicitation of prostitution charge, according to a warrant for his arrest although he has not yet been arrested.
Earlier on Friday, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 77, was charged in the sting, and dozens of others were also charged with further warrants expected in the case involving the Florida spa which is believed to be tied to an international human trafficking ring.
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Billionaire equity firm owner John Childs is one of several men accused of soliciting prostitution in connection with a Florida spa tied to an international human trafficking ring
The 77-year-old Kraft was charged with paying for sexual services at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida. He has not been arrested, according to police
In the case of Childs, a prominent donor to several Republican politicians and groups, including former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, and 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, he is accused of soliciting prostitution.
Childs is wanted on a solicitation of prostitution charge
Childs owns J.W. Childs Associates, a private equity firm based in Massachusetts and is said to be worth $1.2 billion.
His largest donation, $250,000, went to America First Action, a pro-Donald Trump super PAC according to TCPalm.
$4.3 million was donated to Republican candidates during the most recent election campaign.
'The accusation of solicitation of prostitution is totally false,' Childs told Bloomberg News. 'I have retained a lawyer.'
A six-month investigation has revealed human traffickers were luring vulnerable women to massage parlors in Indian River County, where they were coerced into working as prostitutes.
Law enforcement agencies ended up issuing warrants for 173 people, on charges ranging from human trafficking to racketeering to soliciting prostitution.
As of Saturday, the biggest name to have been caught up in the ring was New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Jupiter, Florida, where the sting centered, is home to many celebrities and legendary retired athletes, including some of the most recognizable names in PGA Tour and NBA history and it's believed other big named may also be caught up in the scandal.
Robert Kraft, 77, (above) was one of the dozens charged in the sting on Friday, but other warrants are expected and there are reports an even bigger name might be charged
Florida's southeastern coast is inhabited by many high-profile residents, including Kraft
The possibility of more high-profile arrests followed the bombshell allegation that the billionaire Kraft had been caught on police surveillance cameras receiving sexual services at a strip mall massage parlor.
Kraft was charged with paying for sexual services at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida on two occasions. He has not been arrested, according to police, but a misdemeanor warrant has been issued.
Through a spokesperson, Kraft has denied the allegations: 'We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.'
Under the NFL's personal conduct policy, Kraft could face league penalties. The policy not only applies to owners, but holds them to a stricter standard.
According to the policy, 'ownership and club or league management have traditionally been held to a higher standard and will be subject to more significant discipline when violations of the Personal Conduct Policy occur.'
The Orchids of Asia Day Spa's owner, 58-year-old Hua Zhang, was arrested and charged with 26 counts of procuring prostitution. Kraft allegedly engaged in two criminal acts at the spa
The NFL did not immediately respond to a message Friday seeking comment. Under league policy, players, owners, coaches and other employees can be punished for 'conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in' the NFL.
'Ownership and club or league management have traditionally been held to a higher standard and will be subject to more significant discipline when violations of Personal Conduct Policy occur,' the policy says.
Lanyun Ma (left), 49, of Orlando was charged with human trafficking, unlawful transportation for the purpose of prostitution, racketeering and engaging in prostitution. Junhua Dong (right), 50, of Vero Beach is charged with racketeering, engaging in prostitution, and deriving support from proceeds of prostitution
Yan Xu (left), 51, of Sebastian was charged with deriving support from proceeds of prostitution, engaging in prostitution and racketeering. Yaping Ren (right), 27, of Orlando was charged with engaging in prostitution, racketeering, and deriving support from prostitutio
Kenneth Zullo (left), 64, of Sebastian was charged with racketeering. Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr (right) announced Friday that Kraft was being charged with solicitation
In September, an undercover Vero Beach detective recorded several alleged crimes at one spa. In each instance, the masseuse allegedly offered sexual favors, ranging from $200 for intercourse to $100 for oral sex and hand stimulation for as low as $40, according to TCPalm.com.
Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey explained the conditions to reporters Thursday.
'These girls are there all day long, into the evening. They can't leave and they're performing sex acts,' Currey said. 'Some of them may tell us they're OK, but they're not. We know that… even though we may have charges on some of them, we'd rather them be victims.'
The spa's owner, 58-year-old Hua Zhang, was arrested and charged with 26 counts of procuring prostitution.
Six other 'major players' were arrested as part of the prostitution and human trafficking ring. Lanyun Ma, Liyan Zhang, Junhua Dong, Yan Xu, Kenneth Zullo, and Yaping Ren were charged with crimes such as prostitution, racketeering and deriving support from prostitution.
Their bails were set for anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000.
According to WPTV, about 200 people face charges of soliciting prostitution in Indian River County Florida.
'As of this morning we've issued 171 arrest warrants, the sheriff's office has processed those. And we have arrested 45 individuals,' Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said Thursday.
According to Loar, staff at the East Sea Spa on U.S. 1 was not allowed to exit.
'Clearly our focus is on the human trafficking, the sex trafficking,' he said.
'These johns either knowingly or not knowingly were certainly supplying the funds to perpetuate human trafficking,' Loar continued. 'We also know that staff at times was not allowed to leave the spa in other words they were living in the spa.'
Local police had received tips, prompting investigators to conduct an undercover surveillance operation over the course of several months.
Now dozens of johns are facing charges.
'These are fathers, uncles and sons and family members of others,' Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey said.
Orlando's Yongzhang Yan owns the Vero Beach spa and AA Massage in Sebastian, as well as the Winter Park and Orlando Spas. According to police, his wife, Lanyun Ma, was in charge of the day-to-day operations at Vero Beach, TCPalm.com reported.
Police allegedly observed the couple transporting multiple women to and from the spa 'for the purpose of sexual servitude,' Ma's arrest warrant reads.
Ma was also allegedly seen purchasing condoms.
Some of the women – many of who came from China on work visas – were forced to stay for days at a time, while others did not leave for months, according to police.
'Some of them are trying to make a better life for themselves,' Currey said. 'These people truly are stuck.'
Some of the women were allegedly conned into believing they were taking legitimate jobs, while others believed they were becoming real masseurs, but were later asked to engage in illegal activities.
Kenneth Zullo, 64, was seen transporting the women between spas and other locations, including the airport, according to his arrest warrant. Police reportedly had a tracking device on his car.
The investigation was launched in October following a health department complaint at East Sea Spa in Sebastian, Florida. An employee reported seeing clothing, bedding, suitcases, and other signs that people were living in the spa, which is owned and managed by Liyan Zhang, who was arrested and charged with 30 counts of prostitution.
Zhang had $22,000 cash in her purse, Loar told reporters. He estimates the business made over $1 million annually.
Beginning in December, police began stopping men after they paid for sex acts at the spa.
Police say they observed 140 sex acts performed for money.
Link hienalouca.com
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Main photo article Billionaire equity firm owner John Childs is another big name allegedly involved in a prostitution sting in Florida.
Childs, 77, who lives part of the year in Indian River Shores, with his wife, Marlene, also 77, is wanted on a solicitation of prostitution charge, according to a warrant for his...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
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