Aronberg says trafficking cases about more than famous names
Jupiter, Fl-Last week we found out about the major investigation into day spas accused by authorities of secretly being human trafficking operations. On Friday, we learned that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is accused of being one of the Johns. Authorities say they have the billionaire on video engaged in a sex act at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter.
There have been several other big names arrested. Johnny DelPrete, the longtime boyfriend of LPGA star Jessica Korda, was arrested in Stuart on Friday morning. He was released on $2,500 bond Friday. And billionaire equity firm owner John Childs was charged on Thursday. Childs, who lives seasonally in Indian River Shores, owns J.W. Childs Associates, a private equity firm based in Massachusetts. More big names are expected to come out as the investigation continues. State Attorney Dave Aronberg says this case is about more than the famous names involved.
Aronberg spoke with NBC’s Today show on Friday. A health inspector is getting the credit for tipping Florida police off to the sex trafficking ring. Police said the health inspector noticed women working at Orchids of Asia Day Spa had clothing in suitcases at their workplace. It didn’t take long to confirm the women were living there, sleeping on massage tables and cooking their meals in the back on hotplates. Many of the women spoke little English and had their passports confiscated by the employer. The ensuing eight-month investigation has disrupted what police are calling a multi-million dollar human trafficking and prostitution operation.
Florida ranks #3 out of all states in the Country for incidents of Human Trafficking? Did you know that Palm Beach County ranks #3 out of all Counties in the State for suspected cases of Human Trafficking? In fact, Human Trafficking cases in Palm Beach County have included both sex and labor trafficking, both child and adult victims, and both foreign and domestic born.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or labor services against a person’s will. Human trafficking affects every community in the United States across age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds. Simply put, anyone can be a victim of human trafficking. Not only are victims trafficked in other countries, they are also our children, our teenagers, and our young adults.
Take a moment and read about Human trafficking.
