A man arrested in a recent sex trafficking sweep in Florida but cleared of any wrongdoing is planning to file a lawsuit against the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
The highly publicized bust included Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, in addition to a slew of other men and eight Chinese women.
The bust centered around a spa that authorities said was used for prostitution and sex trafficking.
One of those arrested was Sandipkumar Patel, 47, a married father who addressed how he had done nothing wrong in a press conference on March 5.
WRONGLY ACCUSED:
A father makes emotional plea to return to normalcy after dealing with the shame connected to a crime he didn’t commit. Now he plans to sue the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Read more: https://t.co/4O5W235kMI pic.twitter.com/0PwZjJ2pEy— WPEC CBS12 News (@CBS12) March 5, 2019
“Imagine thinking about killing yourself,” Patel said, reported TC Palm. “This did not have to happen, and there is nothing that can erase the hell my family and I went through.”
Martin Sheriff’s Lt. Mike Dougherty admitted that Patel was wrongly identified as one of the defendants and the charges against him were dropped on March 1. The arrest stemmed from authorities researching the owner of a Porsche seen leaving the spa parking lot after the owner went inside.
Officials said when they realized their mistake after meeting with Patel following his arrest, they notified the media and paid his expenses. “Because Mr. Patel has obtained an attorney and announced his intentions to sue the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, we must limit further public comment,” a spokesman said.
But Patel’s wife said the damage was done because her husband’s name and mugshot was included in numerous media reports.
“Imagine trying to tell your wife you are innocent and did nothing wrong, when she tells you a detective has video.”
Sandipkumar Patel was wrongly identified and served an arrest warrant by MCSO for patronizing a sex spa. The family wants justice.
STORY: https://t.co/cuOmL6pR3p pic.twitter.com/MDVpFSXAWN
— Leah Voss (@LeahVossVisuals) March 5, 2019
“His face was plastered all over the internet for the world to see,” Sonal Patel said. “My husband’s only crime was being a Patel.”
“Shame and dishonor not only fell upon me but upon my family and our family name,” added Sandipkumar Patel, emphasizing the importance of dignity and character in Indian culture. “If I do something to bring shame to our family name, my daughters would not be able to marry.”
He said his daughters have gone through a lot since he was arrested.
“Imagine talking to your mother and father trying to explain you are innocent. Imagine what your two little girls must be thinking and wondering. Imagine what they may be exposed to at school with their friends,” Patel said, according to CBS 12.
“Imagine what your wife must be feeling as she has to take the kids to school and see other parents who she may come in contact in with. Imagine having to work seeing regular customers on a regular basis who I’ve become friends with and look forward to seeing. Imagine thinking about killing your self. This did not have to happen.”
Hear from Sandipkumar and Sonal Patel in their own words: https://t.co/XINlRLXLeL pic.twitter.com/6bAeRtSc9d
— Leah Voss (@LeahVossVisuals) March 5, 2019
Patel wasn’t the only man that authorities now admit they shouldn’t have arrested.
Jeffrey Jewett, 65, was believed to be one of the men captured on video entering the East Sea Spa but Indian River County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers now admits that it wasn’t him.
A vehicle driven to the spa by the man thought to be Jewett was registered to him but a different man was driving.
Jewett’s misdemeanor case was closed on Feb. 28 and authorities declined to comment on the case.
Jewett has not spoken out publicly and it wasn’t clear whether he also planned to sue.
