John Childs Of JW Childs Charged In Florida Prostitution Sting

WALTHAM, MA — John Childs, the founder of Waltham-based private equity firm J.W. Childs, was charged in the same Florida prostitution sting that has Patriots owner Robert Kraft facing charges, according to a Florida sheriff's office.

Childs,77, is among dozens of people charged as a result of a six-month multi-jurisdictional investigation into an international sex trafficking operation, according to the Vero Beach Police Department in Florida.

UPDATE: Childs Announces Retirement

Officials said 171 warrants have been issued for men accused of soliciting prostitutes in massage parlors. Forty-five warrants have been activated and more are in the pipeline.

Childs is charged with soliciting prostitution on a warrant dated Feb. 18. The bond amount is listed at $1,000.

Childs, who once lived in Chestnut Hill and one in Vero Beach, Florida, was ranked as one of Brookline's most wealthy residents in 2016 with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion, according to the AffluenceIQ Top 50 list. Childs is a major Republican donor.

Officials said during a press conference that they'd gotten tips about several massage parlors and set up an investigation that involved surveillance video and under cover police work.

"I'll tell you folks, there were very little massages actually going on," said the Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey. "They weren't going in there for massages."

Other Massachusetts residents charged include Kevin Coyne, 40, of Boston, Timothy McCoy,55 of Boston, Robert Ohlson, 67, of Athol and Carl Santheson, 52, of Plymouth.

Read also

• More Than 160 Arrested In Super Bowl Human Trafficking Operation
• Not For Sale: Removing The Physical Scars Of Human Trafficking
• Robert Kraft Charged With Soliciting Prostitute

Watch the Vero Beach Police Department press conference:

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