Prostitution has been called the world’s oldest profession. In recent times however, there has been a growing recognition that many sex workers are actually trafficking victims. Florida law enforcement decided to act on tips that several spas were tied into sex trafficking rings in China and other countries and mount a sting. The months long surveillance operation encompassed ten day spas in Florida that stretch from Palm Beach to Orlando. According to reports, video surveillance has culminated with arrest warrants for 200 people.
Among those being charged, reports have come out listing some big names. The first to hit the newswire was 77 year old Robert Kraft, best known as the owner of the New England Patriots and CEO of Kraft Foods. He was caught on video surveillance two times inside the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida engaging in sex acts with employees. The former CEO of Citigroup, 62 year old John Havens was also charged. In addition, charges were made against the 77 year old Wall Street billionaire John Childs.
Of the other people charged so far in connection with this sting, some are local benefactors, former law enforcement, retired military, and professional athletes.
NFL insider and reporter for ESPN Adam Schefter said,”There are people down there in that area, I’m told, who say that this story is going to heat up and get a lot worse. I’m also told that Robert Kraft is not the biggest name involved down there in South Florida,”
USA Today Ryan Miller published an article yesterday stating that sex trafficking is rampant across the United States. Most of the women employees in illegal massage parlors and spas are for all practical purposes slaves; unable to leave their “workplace” , cooking meals there with meager supplies, and being kept in financial servitude.
While the general public calls claims of widespread sex trafficking and pedophilia by powerful individuals a conspiracy theory, it seems that ever increasing reports of stings like this are making the mainstream media news. In 2017 alone, the government reported 42 organized sex trafficking criminal enterprises were busted by the FBI, Homeland Security arrested over 1500 alleged child and adult sex traffickers, and the Department of Justice convicted almost 500 individuals of these crimes. It seems to me that the efforts to combat these crimes against humanity are being ramped up.