Evidence Of Human Trafficking At Kraft Spa: Official

FOXBOROUGH, MA — A Florida health inspector testified in court Tuesday she saw possible evidence of human trafficking, including beds, food, toiletries and clothing at the massage parlor where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was accused of soliciting prostitution. Inspector Karen Herzog told the judge she inspected Orchids of Asia Day Spa last November and saw several red flags that made her fear spa employees were being held against their will, the Associated Press reported. Prosecutors did not find evidence of human trafficking while conducting video surveillance of the Jupiter, Florida, massage parlor.

According to Herzog's testimony, spa management was acting nervously and tried to hide evidence during the inspection. Herzog said she marked "not applicable" on the inspection form's question that asked if there was evidence of people living at the business because she was afraid she'd be attacked. If she were to check yes on this question, Herzog said the spa managers would have had to sign the report.

Kraft's attorney argued Herzog was acting as a police agent and that a warrant was needed before conducting this search. According to Herzog, all massage parlors are are subject to an unannounced inspection annually. Kraft's defense team has cited Herzog's inspection as a reason why videos at the spa should be suppressed. Kraft has pleaded no guilty to two counts of soliciting prostitution.

Last week, Judge Leonard Hanser ruled the videos cannot be released until a jury is sworn in, the case is resolved in a plea agreement, Florida prosecutors drop the charges or when the judge no longer sees the threat of an unfair trial as an issue.

Prosecutors said they needed to release the videos because they were also part of a case against the owner and manager at Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter. Spa manager Lei Wang and owner Hua Zhang pleaded not guilty to maintaining a house of prostitution and numerous other charges. Prosecutors have also cited Florida's "Public Records Act," arguing they are obligated by state law to release the videos.

According to court documents, Kraft is accused of visiting the spa twice while it was under video surveillance. One of those visits was the day of the AFC Championship game, prosecutors said. Kraft's lawyers argue the video surveillance was illegal because it stemmed from a search warrant granted to uncover sex trafficking, something Kraft's defense said there was no evidence of.

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