Findings 2008: Shriners' Corruption, Jesters' Prostitution

Here is a list of my 2008 articles and associated findings.

"Shriners Make SLAPP History? Part: 21"

This article provides further coverage of the Shriners' defamation lawsuit filed against two whistleblowers. The lawsuit also named me as a secondary party of interest as the Shriners attempted to circumvent Florida's Reporter Shield laws.

• As of Friday, January 4, 2008, the Shriners continued to make history as the largest nonprofit group to use a SLAPP lawsuit to silence their critics, including one of their own.

• It is also believed that this is also the first time a SLAPP lawsuit has been used to obtain otherwise privileged communications between a reporter and their sources.

• One Shriner subjected to an internal trial spent over $50,000 in legal fees before he was kicked out of the fraternity in 1997.

"Two Years On"

This is a brief explanation of the first two years of this investigation and resultant findings.

2006 findings describe how:

• The Shriners failed to disclose on their 990 exempt organization tax returns (990s) information about affiliations with other nonprofit groups such as Masons, Knights Templar, Jesters, etc.

• The Shriners failed to disclose on their 990s the misuse of charitable donations to fund multiple real estate mortgages from the Shriners Hospitals for Children to Shriner executives, officers and employees.

• The Shriners failed to disclose on their 990s a Congressional lobbyist and his activities that include working on their behalf against the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

• The Shriners failed to disclose on their 990s changes to governing documents.

• The Shriners experienced huge cash losses after an undisclosed change in governing documents.

• The Shriners fraternal described their activities to the IRS as a "lodge system that promotes brotherhood" while their by-laws filed with the state of Iowa state they oversee and control the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

• The Shriners Hospitals for Children reported different answers to the same question asked by the IRS and the State of Colorado Charitable registration unit, which is where they are incorporated.

• The Shriners network of 191 temples has been granted over 1,900 non profit Employee Identification Numbers or EINs, most of which are not required to file tax returns.

• The Shriners have, for over a decade, punished and retaliated against those who question their expenditures and finances.

• The Shriners used a defamation lawsuit to silence a whistleblower and a tax analyst.

• Shriner leaders openly discussed crime, sexual harassment, advised the members to break HIPPA laws and told offensive jokes at their Treasurer's Association meetings.

• Leaders advised the Treasurers Association to "disclose the minimum to the IRS."

• Shriner executives prosecuted only 19% of known crimes because "they don't want the bad press or their names in the newspapers."

• Shriner treasurers learned of ongoing crimes at the Treasurers Association meetings, some of whom are sworn to uphold the law of the land but are expected to turn a blind eye to protect the brotherhood.

2007 findings that describe how:

• The Shriners used "kangaroo courts" to punish whistleblowers in an effort to intimidate them into silence rather than punishing the criminals.

• The Omar Shrine temple threw out the subordinate Dorchester Shrine club's officers, replaced them with their own handpicked representatives and instead of sending money to the hospitals, instead paid off the club's mortgage.

• The Omar Temple's potentate used the group's newsletter for free advertising.

• The Shrine Treasurers meeting minutes were taken offline after it was discovered that ongoing crime is openly discussed at their meetings but not prosecuted.

• The Gwinnett Shrine Club raised over $100,000 "for the hospitals" through illegal "Texas Hold 'Em" tournaments without being registered as a Georgia charity and without filing tax returns.

• The Yaarab Shrine Temple failed to report the Gwinnett Shrine club's illegal fundraising on their group tax returns.

• The Shriners used a suspended "for profit" corporation to organize and hold their annual convention.

• A secret group made up of invited Shriner leaders, The Royal Order of Jesters, was the subject of a complaint that accused them of holding drunken orgies.

• The fraternity contributed only to 0.5% or one half of one percent to the hospital's income.

• The Shriners used their tax-exempt status to avoid paying over $450,000 in HQ property taxes.

• The Thirteenth Circuit Court of Hillsborough County, Florida, filed a motion to dismiss after the Shriners failed to do anything to "prosecute" the defamation lawsuit filed against a whistleblowers and a tax analyst.

• The Shriners used a defamation AKA SLAPP lawsuit to circumvent Florida's reporter shield laws.

• Two Shriner Hospitals for Children received FDA warning letters after pre-market inspections found that they failed to obtain informed consent, failed to report adverse effects, failed to follow protocols, and failed to keep accurate patient and device records.

• The doctor in charge of the clinical studies apparently used the nonprofit resources provided by both the University of Cincinnati and SHC, Cincinnati, as well as government grants, to invent and patent a burn treatment that he, thorough his own biotech start-up company, sold for $1.5 million with another $4.8 promised after regulatory approval.

• This same doctor allegedly failed to recuse himself as principal investigator after being told to do so by the Institutional Review Board overseeing his clinical study.

• A number of Shriner executive's mortgages were repaid in unusually short times that also "randomly coincide" with the "buy low, sell high" activity of a company who has been marketing a burn treatment co-developed with SHC.

"Jesters Exposed"

This is the first article, investigative or otherwise, ever written about the Shriner secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters or ROJ.

• ROJ 2005 tax returns AKA the 990s show that the Jesters fraternal brought in over $1.3 million dollars with assets totaling over $1.8 million dollars.

• ROJ 2005 tax returns show that Jesters charitable brought in over $420,000 with assets totaling $835,000, for a combined worth of about $2.65 million dollars and that charitable contributions went toward building their new $1.2 million 5,000 square foot HQ/museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.

• In 2006, ROJ executive director Alex Rogers, who is also an attorney and past potentate, submitted an application for property tax exemption to the Marion County Assessor that was initially denied because tax authorities were not convinced that the Jesters qualified as a charity, based on the museum claims, under Indiana law.

• Rogers appealed the decision and convinced the Indiana Tax Assessment Board of Appeals that the Jesters are an appendant body of Masonry. Both parties entered into a Settlement Agreement in January, 2007 that stipulated a 100% fraternal tax exemption for the year 2005, otherwise the Jesters would have had to cough up about $12,000 in property taxes.

• Two ROJ executive directors appear to be practicing law out of Jester HQ in Indiana and Texas. IRS nonprofit laws state that no one shall benefit personally from a nonprofit group.

• "Royal Stage Manager" Dennis Schueler sent a letter to Jester webmaster Frank Baillie, informing him that the Jesters had "directed the abolition of all Jester-related bulletin boards and internet sites. The primary reason behind such action was the desire of the Board to minimize the extent possible, our public exposure or its access to Jesters information."

• ROJ functions have always been listed on the Imperial Council's annual session agenda.

• Shriners' corporate communications director, Alicia Aargiz-Lyons failed to respond to phone messages and emailed questions about the Royal Order of Jesters.

"'Jesters' To Testify about Illegal Drugs, Child Prostitution?"

This article is about how 19 Jesters were named on a witness list for the defense in a federal defamation lawsuit and associated court documents.

• Federal court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division regarding a defamation lawsuit between two fishing tour operators, Richard Schair and Phillip Marsteller, includes a defense witness list that names 19 witnesses who are members of the ROJ and are expected to testify about fishing trips to Brazil and "their first hand knowledge of prostitution, minor prostitution, use of illegal drugs and/or entry into Indian reservations by Schair (plaintiff) and/or his customers."

• The ROJ was investigated by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas in 2005 after they received a complaint alleging Jester parties revolved around sex with prostitutes, illegal gambling and alcohol. It ended with no "prosecutions."

• The Wichita Jester Court #24 reported to the IRS that they spent $122,102 in 2006 for the exempt purpose of "recreation, entertainment and companionship."

• The Long Beach Jester Court #161 reported to the IRS that they spent $82,543 in 2006 as "benefits paid to members."

• Five girls gave statements to Brazilian federal police officers last year who are investigating "minor Indian and other girls living near the rivers in the region of the Municipality of Autazes/AM who became victims of sexual exploitation by North-American foreign tourists."

• These depositions described how the girls were, at the time of the alleged minor prostitution, aged 13, 14, 16. One of the 16 year olds stated that her 14 year old sister was also recruited.

• All the girls state they were lured onto the fishing boat by someone named "Richard."

• These depositions describe the crime known as "child sex tourism."

"Judge Resigns, Police Captain to Plead Guilty as FBI Investigates Royal Order of Jesters for Prostitution"

This article further covers the news that the FBI is investigating retired New York state Supreme Court justice Ron Tills, retired police captain John Trowbridge and Tills' former law clerk Michael Stebick for allegedly transporting a woman, for the purposes of prostitution, to an out-of-state meeting of the Royal Order of Jesters (ROJ). As a result, Judge Tills resigned. Stebick resigned from his position as Tills' law clerk. Trowbridge was scheduled to plead guilty the next day in federal court.

• The fraternity has approximately 23,500 members who are organized into 191 "courts" for the exempt purpose of "holding annual events which are devoted to fraternalism and spreading the gospel of mirth and good cheer."

• The Jesters' tax returns, for both the fraternity and charity, fail to list their relationship to the Shriners or the Masons in question 80a, which reads "Is the organization related through common membership, governing bodies, trustees, officers, etc, to any other exempt or non exempt organization?"

• The fraternal tax return fails to list any charitable activities or contributions to the Shriners or any other group.

• The ROJ seems to have a sophisticated network of adult "Mirth Missive" newsletters and calendars coordinated nationwide.

• 2005 tax return for the National Court of the Royal Order of Jesters reports that they spent $38,523 on their annual banquet and spent $307,345 on their annual party called "The Book of the Play." Additionally, this same return lists on one of the back pages a "Director's expense" of $31,865, which is not properly listed on page two under item #25, "Compensation of officers, directors, etc."

• Former Judge Tills is also listed on the Billiken Bulletin Board as an event coordinator so Jesters could contact him at his official email address, rtills@courts.state.ny.us, about the upcoming Buffalo Court 22 trip to San Jose, Costa Rica.

• Other events were sponsored by the Buffalo court #22, which may have been under investigation by the FBI for prostitution.

• If Tills is found guilty of this, he could face disbarment for violating the New York State Bar Association's Code of Judicial Conduct.

• Like Judge Tills, there are those who receive their Mirth Missives at their government, educational and corporate email domain addresses, including state governments, the military, colleges and universities, Masonic and Scottish Rite groups, major pharmaceutical companies, internationally known financial management and investment companies, insurance companies, grocery corporations, major health and beauty product companies, banks and major computer companies. This could violate federal laws prohibiting the transmission obscene material.

"Feds 1, Jesters 0: Court Papers Revealed"

This article describes what court papers reveal about those three Jesters caught in the FBI's human trafficking sting.

• Retired police captain and Jester John Trowbridge admitted to and pleaded guilty to unlawfully transporting an illegal alien woman, identified as "Jane Doe No. 1," on October 28, 2005 from Buffalo to a Royal Order of Jesters party in Kentucky.

• In the case of the United States of America v John Trowbridge, he was charged with one felony count of transporting a female in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.

• It was customary for these men and others, who are also members of a men's organization (ROJ) to bring women to some of their meetings, intending for the women to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity with the organization's members in exchange for money.

• U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny accepted Trowbridge's guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for July 31 at 0900.

• The FBI, the U.S. Border Patrol and members of a human trafficking task force are also investigating other allegations that the Royal Order of Jesters have been using prostitutes at their national or international events, normally called "The Book of the Play" or BOP.

"Judge Central Figure in FBI Probe, the S.O.B.I.B. and the Jesters' Half Million Dollar Weekend Parties"

This article describes how Judge Tills is the focus of the FBI's investigation, exposes a clandestine Jester sub-group called the S.O.B.I.B. and details shocking data found on Jester tax returns.

• Tills is listed as a member of an inside Jesters group called the "S.O.B.I.B." The acronym allegedly stands for something like "Secret Order of Brother/s in Blood."

• Ralph Semb, chairman of the board of trustees for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, is both a Jester and a member of the S.O.B.I.B.

• The International Royal Order of Jesters, Inc. and the National Court of the Royal Order of Jesters fail to list the S.O.B.I.B. on line 80b of their 2003, 2004 and 2005 tax returns. Line 80a asks "Is the organization related (other than by association with a statewide or nationwide organization) through common membership, governing bodies, trustees, officers, etc., to any other exempt or non exempt organizations?" Line 80b asks "If 'Yes,' enter the name of the organization."

• The Jesters further fail to correctly answer questions about their exempt purpose.

• Tax returns report that in 2003, the Jesters' BOP expenses were $226,268, with income of $400,548. In 2004, they spent $545,806 on the BOP, with income of $584,661. In 2005, they spent $307,345 with income of $454,783.

• Three years of ROJ tax returns report that director's expense as $31,116, $24,778 and $31,865 respectively, though these expenses are not reported in Part II.

• Three years of ROJ tax returns list $0 for Program Services.

• Three years of ROJ tax returns report gross receipts of $1,208,146, $1,394,551 and $1,310, 539.

• A Thursday, December 20, 2007 request for the ROJ 2006 990 and Form 1023 remains unanswered. The Form 1023 is a group's application for tax exempt status. IRS regulations state that the organization must provide the requested document/s within 30 days from the date it received the request.

"Shriners Launch PR Campaign, Settle Lawsuit Prior to Worldwide Masonic Grand Masters' Conference"

This editorial explains how the Shriners launched a massive PR campaign, as well as settled a defamation lawsuit they filed against two whistleblowers, right before the ninth worldwide conference of Masonic Grand Lodges that took place in Washington, DC. This article also explains the Masonic relationships between the Shriners and the Jesters.

• In February, 2008, the joint boards published their newsletter, "Between Sessions," that tells the world about the great job they are doing.

• There are about three million Masons in North America and another two million worldwide.

• The Shriners Hospitals for Children recently released "Biomedical Research Highlights, Volume 2:1, March 2008."

• In April, 2008, Imperial Potentate Bernard Lemieux issued a statement about the most recent joint board meeting, highlighting a consultant's plan to "more efficiently structure Shriners Headquarters" and how the board approved a new Strategic Action Plan (SAP).

• On May 1, 2008, court documents were recorded after the Shriners settled a lawsuit instead of pursuing two whistleblowers for "defamation."

• Shriner leaders have failed to distance themselves from the Jesters' sex scandals.

• The Shriners hired a company that "provides innovative solutions in the areas of human capital strategy, program design and management, and in the areas of risk and capital management, reinsurance intermediary services and actuarial consulting" instead of turning to nonprofit consultants, the IRS or their parent group, the Masons, for guidance?

• The Shriners spend charitable donations on another expensive study when, according to the minutes of their February 27 – March 1, 2005 Shrine Treasurers Association seminar, the treasurers heard about a Price Waterhouse study that also recommended a similar 7% spending cap to support hospitals that were operating at only 1/3 capacity?

• Shriner Treasurers heard about an option combining both a 7% spending cap and the acceptance of third party pay. It was rejected because "if we take third party pay under NIH funding for our research program we're going to have to jump through the hoops of all the federal regulations pertaining to affirmative action. And we're going to have to comply with state laws that you wouldn't believe." What type of a "culture" would be adversely affected by following federal regulations pertaining to affirmative action and by complying with state laws?

• The joint board published their most recent newsletter "Between Sessions" in February, 2008, that tried to describe all their good deeds but instead painted a confusing picture of how they are spending millions on facilities, new construction and IT projects that look good on paper but may be a huge waste if the fraternity becomes extinct due to plummeting membership.

• Newsletter articles also described how: Consultants were hired to figure out how to recruit and retain 16 physicians needed at 12 Shriners hospitals; The Research Advisory Board needed to be reorganized; The medical research department needed to be streamlined; The grant management review process needed to become more efficient; Each scientist's performance would be evaluated to see if they were spending their funding productively; The PR department was being reorganized.

• The Shriners hid from the IRS details of research projects, publications, patents or millions given for research grants.

• The Shriners hid from the IRS the fact that the Cincinnati Shriners hospital received two warning letters from the FDA and ten letters from the Office of Human Research Protection after both agencies found that those conducting clinical studies had violated human subject protections, disregarded protocols and failed to keep adequate medical records.

"Brazilian Fishing Trip Depositions: 'Masons' Pictured Having Sex with Teen Prostitutes?"

This is the second article requiring an "Adult Warning."

What began as a defamation lawsuit between two fishing tour operators has led to the possibility that "Masons" participated in child sex tourism and minor prostitution.

• Two fishing guides, previously employed by the plaintiff "Richard," were deposed by the Brazilian federal police to describe what they witnessed as part of their same investigation into the international crime of "child sex tourism."

• These guides spent three days in Miami with attorneys from both sides, interpreters, a videographer and both parties as they testified about what they witnessed in pictures of "Masons" allegedly having sex with teen prostitutes on "Wet-a-Line" fishing boats, some underage.

• Brazilian teens lured into prostitution told fishing tour guides that they had "sex of all kinds" with those on "Wet-A-Line" tours.

• Tour guides described going by fishing boats as the girls engaged in oral sex with the fishermen.

• Tour guides identified groups of American men who went on these tours year after year to party, drink, watch strip contests, have sex and take drugs.

• Tour guides said that girls as young as 9, 13, and 14 were used as prostitutes on the fishing boats.

• Tour guides identified those who returned each year as "Masons."

• "Masons" were pictured with two underage prostitutes at a party on the fishing boat.

• The "Masons" asked for girls over 13.

"Child Sex Tourism: Brazilian Teens Testify About Being Lured into Minor Prostitution for American Tourists"

This is the third of three articles related to how 19 Jesters were called as to testify for the defense in a federal lawsuit about their alleged firsthand knowledge of minor prostitution while fishing trips to Brazil.

• Five girls' depositions were taken by the Brazilian Federal Police on June 13, 2007 that allege how "Richard" went to the same village every year, luring girls to help him with housekeeping and cooking on his boat.

• Upon arriving at the boat, the girls discover they are to drink whiskey and have sex with the fishermen.

• The girls report that they are victims of sexual abuse perpetuated by a group of North American tourists.

• One 13 year old was left pregnant.

• These Indian families live way below poverty.

• "Richard" failed to pay the girls what was promised.

"Internal Shriner Report Confirms Corruption?"

This article covers a confidential "Interim Report of the Special Investigative Committee of the Joint Boards of Shriners Hospitals for Children" that describes how immediate past potentate Bernard Lemieux appointed a committee to investigate allegations of unethical conduct and conflict of interest associated with two Shriner leaders, Ralph Semb, Chairman of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Board of Trustees and Gene Bracewell, Imperial Treasurer, Shriners International Imperial Divan.

• Lemieux appointed committee members on September 20, 2007 to "inquire whether Semb and Bracewell engaged in unethical conduct by intervening in the executive evaluation process (the so called 360 degree review) of Edgar McGonigal, Director of Development of SHC during the year 2007."

• The report revealed how Semb and Bracewell pushed hard for continued contracts with one specific fund-raising company, Vantage Direct Marketing Services that raised over $46 million between 1999 and 2003 on behalf of SHC and kept $43 million with only $2.5 million going to the hospitals.

• Bracewell admitted to committee and board members that he got at least one free trip from Vantage in 2007.

• Semb retaliated against McGonigal, who opposed Vantage contracts, by unilaterally firing him on October 31, 2006 without first consulting the joint boards or HR.

• Semb and Bracewell attempted to accomplish their purpose by using subterfuge rather than by directly making their views known by "compromising the 360 degree review process in an unprecedented way."

• Semb and Bracewell contacted confidential employment reviewers in an effort to further retaliate against McGonigal by having him removed for poor job performance.

• SHC executive vice president James Full allegedly violated employment confidentiality to "in part, avoid a confrontation with Mr. Semb."

• Comptroller Willard Fawcett resigned after alleging "improper reimbursement of expenses that did not further the exempt purposes of SHC and contracts that were not in the best interests of SHC and may have involved self-interest on the part of members of the Joint Boards."

• The committee described how headquarters personnel worked under the threat of being fired in a culture of fear if they did not bend to the wills of leaders like Semb and Bracewell.

• The committee recommended that Semb and Bracewell be reprimanded, that forensic accountants be hired, reimbursement records be corrected, Conflict of Interest Policy and Bylaws be amended to designate a full time member of the legal department for conflict of interest compliance, The SHC bylaws be amended to "debar from business with SHC any entity that provides or offers any gifts, gratuities or favors to any member of the joint boards, any officer or senior executive," that SHC provide a whistle blower hotline or other program so employees, senior executives, trustees or directors can report suspected incidents, corporate wrong doing, conflict of interest, violations of corporate policy or violations of law.

• Fawcett's attorney stated that his client has information concerning the following matters: failure to report benefits as income (presumably reimbursement of personal, non-business expenses that should have been reported on either Form W-2 or form 1099-MISC and Form 990) and business transactions not in the best interests of SHC (presumably involving conflict of interest or private benefit or inurnment).

"Trowbridge Sentencing Delayed as Jester Prostitution Investigation Links to Sex Trafficking"

This article describes circumstances surrounding a delay in the sentencing of retired police captain John Trowbridge.

• The Western District of New York Human trafficking Task Force and Alliance was created in November, 2006 as 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.

• An FBI complaint and application for a search warrant explained 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 Jesters were caught in fifteen month investigation that was initiated in September, 2006, by the FBI and U.S. Border Patrol on a tip that one of the acupressure businesses was a front for prostitution.

• Chong was arrested with three others on December 10, 2007.

• Chong pleaded guilty to "Sex Trafficking of Persons by Force, Fraud and Coercion" on April 17, 2008 and faced penalties including a minimum 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

"Felony Conspiracy Plea Confirms Investigation into Masonic Sub-group, Royal Order of Jesters"

This article reports how Michael Stebick, an attorney and member of two Masonic sub-groups, the Shriners and the Royal Order of Jesters, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiring to violate the Mann act after admitting to driving a prostitute across state lines so she could be sold for sex to members of the Royal Order of Jesters at one of their weekend stag parties.

• Stebick was the second Jester to enter into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors for Mann Act violations.

• Stebick's plea states that Trowbridge picked up the prostitute from Chong's Golden Acupressure business and then "drove her to a parking lot of Leisure Land in Hamburg, New York to board a motor home driven by Stebick to transport her, the co-conspirators and others known and unknown to the U.S. Attorney's office, to Ashland, Kentucky"

• Stebick's plea agreement included how he was to "immediately criminally forfeit" his 2000 Challenger 335 MHA motor home to be sold, with the proceeds also forfeited.

• These three Jesters will most likely face disciplinary actions overseen by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York, which could result in expulsion from the worldwide order.

• Stebick and Tills, both attorneys and members of the New York Bar Association, face automatic disbarment upon pleading guilty to felonies.

"Jester Confesses to Wife He Organized Prostitutes"

This is an interview with a wife who discovered that as her husband became more and more involved with the Jesters, he was getting prostitutes to Jester functions.

• The ROJ is a strictly stag, luxury organization for no purpose other than to "spread mirth."

• Wives are allowed at only two events a year.

• The Jester husband said that the Jesters have a "pool" of girls and that certain men request their favorites.

• Each court's director assigns the job of inviting the girls.

• The Jesters have a doctor who checks the girls "papers."

• Every court lines up the girls to come to their books once a year.

• The U.S. Attorney's office describes the Royal Order of Jesters as "This organization maintained chapters throughout the United States, including in Western New York, and it was the custom of these chapters to host periodic meetings, usually on weekends, for their members. At most of these meetings, some members of the organization would be tasked to arrange for the presence of women at the meetings, for the specific purpose of utilizing the women to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity with the organization's members in exchange for money."

"Judge Tills Pleads Guilty, Admits Coordinating Prostitutes with Jester National Representatives"

This article is based on Department of Justice press release that reports "Terrance P. Flynn, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, announced today that RONALD H. TILLS, 73, a former State Supreme Court Judge from Hamburg, New York, pleaded guilty to Information charging him with knowingly transporting a female in interstate commerce with the intent that the female engage in prostitution (Mann Act)."

• The 9/11 terrorist attack did not deter Judge Tills from getting prostitutes to a weekend Jester party because air traffic was delayed or suspended.

• Judge Tills arranged for the transportation of prostitutes from the Buffalo airport to the Jesters' national meeting then being held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

• Judge Tills agreed with representatives of the Jesters' National Court that members of the Buffalo Court #22 would get the women from the Buffalo airport to the hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, where the Jesters were meeting.

• Judge Tills paid one of these prostitutes to engage in sexual acts with him at a massage parlor.

• Judge Tills and retired police captain Trowbridge knowingly transported a different illegal alien from New York to a Jester meeting in Pennsylvania to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity

• Judge Tills arranged for a woman from Buffalo to attend a Jester party in Florida to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity and be paid for it.

• Judge Tills arranged for several women from New York, Ohio and Texas to attend a Jester meeting in Brantford, Ontario, Canada to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity and be paid for it.

• Judge Tills held high offices in the Masonic Grand Lodge of New York and the Ismailia Shriners.

• ROJ bylaws show that they are closely related to the Shriners, with national events being held together as well as ROJ courts dependent on where Shriner temples are located.

"Ex-Jesters confirm 'Sam Houston' E-mail"

This article provides interviews with two ex-Jesters who confirm allegations made in the email that started an investigation by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas.

• Eye witness accounts of Jester parties with girls walking around in nothing but their G-strings, advertising so they can take a Jester to their own room, oral sex contests, high stakes poker, lots of drinking and porn movies running 24/7 in the hospitality room.

• Those Jesters at such parties include country music stars, politicians, lawyers, doctors, sheriffs, federal judges, a governor, Masonic Grand Masters, state representatives, community leaders and one Imperial Potentate sucking on a prostitute.

• Jesters are in every state and every major city.

• Police and sheriffs are paid to be security at the events.

• Investigators should follow the money for research, studies within the Shrine to see where it leads to because Imperial Officers allegedly only do business with Jesters.

• One Jester claimed that he had reported these activities to Masonic officials and that he was prosecuted while not one Jester was prosecuted.

"Jester Prostitution Updates, Stebick Sentenced"

This is the last story of the year and the headline sums it up.

• Michael Stebick, 61 was put on probation for two years, ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and directed to provide 250 hours of community service.

• According to sentencing Judge Skretny, the victim in the case was put up in a hotel by the Jesters, with a sign stating '$70-an-hour' posted outside her room.

• Pictures show Jesters fishing, drinking and cuddling with Brazilian girls.

• John Trowbridge's sentencing November 4 date was been again rescheduled for May 6, 2009.

• The owner of the "massage parlors," Len Wah Chong, was sentenced on November 19 to six years in federal prison for enslaving as many as 11 illegal alien prostitutes. She pleaded guilty early last April to "Sex Trafficking of Persons by Force, Fraud and Coercion." She forfeited two properties, $70K in cash and jewelry seized and now must pay $350,000 in restitution to those she kept as sex slaves.

• The Richard W. Schair and Wet-a-Line Tours LLC v Phillip Marsteller and Amazon Tours, Inc. defamation lawsuit was settled out of court on Friday, December, 5.

• On Monday, September 15, 2008 defendant Marsteller participated in a signing ceremony held at the Church Center of the UN. He, on behalf of his Peacock Bass fishing business Amazon Tours, Inc., took a public stand against child sex tourism by signing "The Code" AKA Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. The event was sponsored by ECPAT, which stands for "End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes."

• On Wednesday, December 3, 2008, Imperial Potentate Douglas Maxwell, Chairman of the SHC Board of Trustees Ralph Semb and Corporate Director of Public Relations Alicia Aargiz-Lyons were emailed the following questions "What is your reaction to the latest news articles about those members of the Royal Order of Jesters pleading guilty in Buffalo to violating the Mann Act?" and "Those Jesters allegedly involved with child sex tourism?" To date, all three have failed to respond.

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