Trowbridge Sentencing Delayed as Jester Prostitution Investigation Links to Sex Trafficking

Royal Order of Jesters emblem.

Editor's note: Insert Adult Disclaimer here. Twenty years ago, the Orlando Sentinel reported that whistleblowers had alerted them to how a Shriner circus ticket scam was reported to police who failed to investigate allegedly because they were also Shriners. One of the main themes of this investigation is how some Shriners, those who are also sworn to uphold the law, turn a blind eye to crime though they learn of it or participate in it. It seems that this conduct may be the result of Shriner by-laws that state "Shrine law does not include the law of the land." Here is an update as to how the law of the land is being applied to a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, which is a secret sub-group made up of invited Shriner leaders. This Jester, retired police captain John Trowbridge, got caught by the FBI and pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the Mann Act. The following is, in part, about his sentencing date. The rest of the article describes how a FBI application for a search warrant reveals how those Jesters caught by the FBI were involved with more than prostitution.

Sandy Frost
July 29, 2008
Starbucks, WA

Federal court documents reveal that there will be a delay in the sentencing of John Trowbridge. It had been scheduled for this Thursday, July 31 at 0900. The DOJ press release on Trowbridge's plea can be read here.

Item 33 of Trowbridge's plea agreement states:

"At the time of sentencing, the government will make the nature and extent of the defendant's compliance with this agreement known to the court. The government and its defendant will request that sentencing be adjourned until full satisfaction by the defendant of the terms of this agreement."

The "Government's Affidavit In Support of Motion to Adjourn Sentencing" can be read here.

It states that:

"While the defendant has assisted the Government fully and completely to date, he has not completed all of the terms of his contemplated cooperation at this time. At this point, Mr. Trowbridge's testimony in related proceedings is still possible and would be required by the Government. Accordingly, the Government respectfully requests the defendant's sentencing date be adjourned sine die with the Government."

Sine die means at an unspecified future date.

So, as long as Trowbridge cooperates with investigators about what he may or may not know about Jester involvement with these or any other crimes, nothing he says can be used against him. There is no word yet about the other Jesters caught by the FBI, former Judge Ron Tills and his law clerk, Michael Stebick.

Investigators and other members of the Western District of New York Human trafficking Task Force and Alliance have had to absorb the nuances of the "Mason," "Shriner," and "Jester" relationships, which can be confusing.

Once a man joins his local Masonic lodge, he can complete three levels to become a Master Mason who can then join other "appendant" groups, such as the Shriners. Within the Shriners is a secret sub-group called the Royal Order of Jesters, made up of invited Shriners. The Jesters have been linked not only to this prostitution scandal but to the possibility that 19 others may have first hand knowledge of child sex tourism after a fishing trip to Brazil.

According to a Department of Justice announcement, the task force was created in November, 2006 and "is a collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and non-government service organizations working together to identify, rescue and assist victims of human trafficking, human smuggling and other civil and human rights offenses in the 17 counties of the district, through aggressive investigation, prosecution, training, education and outreach to law enforcement, non government organizations, vulnerable and affected persons and the general public."

The following information is from a FBI complaint and application for a search warrant and will explain how the former judge and the retired police captain were not only caught visiting the prostitutes, but were actually helping Len Wah Chong operate her four brothels with illegal aliens.

The information in the complaint/application was gathered by the FBI "in cooperation with the US Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE and the Niagara County Sheriff's Department. It was gathered through interviews, physical surveillance, background investigations, consensually monitored meetings, wire intercepts and while examining financial records, pen registers and trap/trace data, and telephone subscriber/toll records pertaining to the investigation of the offenses described above."

This application was also filed to obtain arrest warrants for:

a. Keeping, maintaining, controlling, supporting or harboring an individual in any home or place.

b. For the purposes of prostitution conspired to keep and control female aliens for the purposes of prostitution, or any other immoral purpose.

c. Knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that said individual is an alien.

d. Failing to file the required statement concerning the individual within five business days of commencing such activity with the relevant immigration authorities.

This fifteen month investigation was initiated in September, 2006, by the FBI and US Border Patrol on a tip that one of the acupressure businesses was a front for prostitution. Per the document, "full sets" refers to sexual intercourse and "half-sets" can be used to refer to either oral sex or hand-jobs (that is, anything less than intercourse). Other terms used are "mouth" or "oral," both meaning oral sex.

Court ordered wire intercepts on three telephones revealed the following, to include references to other law enforcement officers as well as the judge and police captain. The following has been edited to include specific references to the "judge," the "police captain" as well as other law enforcement officers. A Department of Justice official confirmed that these are, in fact, Tills and Trowbridge.

On August 23, 2007, CHONG placed a telephone call to premises 1. CHONG told an unknown Asian female (UAF) that the "police captain" is on his way to Premises 1. She instructed the UAF to give him a 45 minute service and wanted to know whose turn it was in the rotation. The UAF told CHONG it was an Asian female whom CHONG referred to as "Lala's" turn. CHONG told the UAF the "police captain" does not count in the rotation. It should be noted that the "police captain" was coming from Premises 5.

On August 24, 2007, CHONG received a telephone call from Premises 1. An Asian female whom CHONG referred to as "Jenny" told her the propane tank is out of gas and they are unable to cook their food. It should be noted in human trafficking cases, victims are required to cook in the locations where they conduct the prostitution to limit their movement and thus maintain greater control over them.

On September 4, 2007, CHONG made a telephone call to Premises 6. CHONG spoke to an unidentified prostitute she called Coco and asked if Coco did the Judge's friend who is short, and is claiming he did not get good service from Coco after he paid the sixty dollar house fee plus a tip. Coco told CHONG the guy wanted a full set (sexual intercourse) for forty dollars.

On September 05, 2007, CHONG placed a telephone call to Premises 1. CHONG told an Asian female whom CHONG referred to as "Jenny" the "Police Captain" was on his way to Premises 1. CHONG told "Jenny" the "Police Captain" just visited her husband and his service will not be counted on the normal rotation.

On September 5, 2007, CHONG made a telephone call to Premises 3. CHONG spoke to a prostitute named Amy and told her that customers who are friends of the Judge called her to complain about Mary. Chong told Amy she was at Golden and that Judge told her Lockport is a high class spot, and that girls should not solicit for tips and if they do, he (the Judge) will not help her out. CHONG added that the Judge informed her Mary offended every customer. CHONG said she told the Judge she fired Mary and that the Judge agreed with CHONG's actions and commented that if she had not fired Mary, she would have made trouble.

On September 5, 2007, CHONG received a call to Premises 4. Feng Xian LI told CHONG she was considering bringing her son to the United States from China. Feng Xian LI said her divorce papers were filed but she is unsure if she can bring her son over. CHONG told Feng Xian LI to ask her regular customer, who is an INS officer, to help her bring her son to the U.S. Feng Xian LI said she should provide the INS officer a "full set" if she is going to ask him for assistance. CHONG stated she has a friend that knows this officer and he is scared about being caught since one of his friends was caught and fired.

On September 06, 2007, CHONG placed a telephone call to Premises 1. CHONG told an Asian female whom CHONG referred to as "Jenny" the "Judge" was on his way to Premises 1. CHONG told "Jenny" the "Judge" to charge him for one hour even though he wanted a one and half hour service.

On September 30, 2007, CHONG made a telephone call to Premises 6. CHONG spoke to an Asian prostitute named Lily and told her that the police left. CHONG told Lily that the police officer said he would like to try massage sometime. CHONG said the Judge and his friends he brought over wanted it for free and they were bad tippers.

On October 1, 2007, CHONG made a telephone call to Premises 1. CHONG spoke to XU and told her to listen carefully. CHONG said they are on action (or alert), the government won't give girls tips intentionally. CHONG told XU she just got back from seeing the Sheriff because he was looking for her. CHONG told XU that law enforcement is not intentionally giving tips to the girls to see their reactions.

On October 16, 2007, CHONG placed a telephone call to Premises 1. CHONG told a UAF the "Judge" called and could not make it to Premises 1 that day. CHONG told the UAF that Xiu LIN aka "Coco" went to New York City and told everyone if you get arrested in Buffalo, NY, you can get legal immigration status. CHONG told the UAF the "Judge" was also upset with LIN due to her conversations in New York City about obtaining legal immigration status after being arrested in Buffalo, NY. Chong stated the "Judge" advised her to have people from a church provide the girls with a letter in order to help their immigration status.

On October 18, 2007, CHONG placed a call from Premises 5 to Premises 1. CHONG told an Asian female whom she referred to as "Jenny" the "Judge" and his friends will be going to Premises 1. CHONG told "Jenny" some of them wanted sex and they were to be treated as good customers no matter what.

On October 21, 2007, CHONG placed a call to Premises 4. CHONG told Feng Xian LI the "Judge" is mad at Feng Xian LIN because she was talking too much lately concerning her situation. Xiu LIN is a victim/material witness in an ICE investigation which was taken down in March, 2007 in Buffalo , New York. CHONG stated that Xiu LIN told a lot of people that if you come to Buffalo, NY, you can get arrested and obtain legal immigration status. CHONG also stated another government agency is contacting the "Judge" now.

On November 3, 2007, CHONG made a telephone call to Premises 1. CHONG told XU that "Da Quan" called her and informed her that a shop in Buffalo got raided and one girl without legal status was detained and that the two who were released are Da Quan's friends. CHONG told XU when the Sheriff arrived later he reminded the girls to be cautious and not to ask for tips. CHONG told a lot of her customers are police officers and public officials.

This application led to Chong's arrest, with three others, on December 10, 2007. On April 17, 2008, she pleaded guilty to Sex Trafficking of Persons by Force, Fraud and Coercion and faces penalties including a minimum 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

A copy of this application can be read here.

All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost" must include the following credit line: From http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/ Copyright © 2008 by Sandy Frost. Used by permission.

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