Update 10/20/10: YouTube video with sub-titles can be seen here.

Update 10/10/10: Unofficial translation follows Brazilian news broadcast of “Childhood in Danger” by Rede Record. It reports that the FBI has been in Brazil investigating the sexual exploitation of underage Indian girls by North Americans. It also reports that the FBI interviewed a victim in her village and provides video of her living conditions. She alleges that she lost her virginity and was left pregnant by one of two North Americans on a fishing trip to Brazil.

Editor’s Note and Adult Content Warning 10/8/2010: Portuguese to English translations done by myself using Yahoo Babel fish and Babylon. They are rough translations of what is in the subtitles. Be warned that the Brazilian news broadcast has sexually explicit pictures.

Thank you,

Sandy

Over two years ago I published “Child Sex Tourism: Brazilian Teens Testify About Being Lured into Minor Prostitution for American Tourists.”

It imagined what it would be like to be a 13 year old Brazilian Indian girl, living with her poor family on their reservation. Then a North American named “Richard” shows up and asks for your help to sweep, do laundry and cook on his fishing boat.

You agree because your family needs the money for food.

When you get to the boat, you learn that your real job, along with other girls, is to drink whiskey and beer and have sex with the “North Americans” on a fishing trip. After they go back home, you are left pregnant, not knowing who the father is.

Three years later, in July of 2007, you find yourself with four of the same girls in the office of the Regional Superintendent of the Federal Police of the State of Amazonas with your mother, a federal police transcriber, an attorney hired to represent you and the Federal Police Chief, who is asking you to tell him what happened. The police take your deposition because they are investigating that minor Indian and other girls living near the rivers in the regions of Autazes became victims of sexual exploitation by North-American foreign tourists.

The girls testify that “Richard” went to the same village every year, luring girls to help him with housekeeping and cooking on his boat, the Amazon Santana.

Two days ago, this Brazilian news broadcast told the same story. “Companies That Sell packages of Tourism in the Amazon Promote Orgies” aired October 6 and is described as:

"Fashion in Europe, Japan and the USA is the ecological tourism. Who is buying the packages do not want the traditional uses, either adventure. One of the destinations is the Brazilian Amazon. Girls are employed to work on vessels of luxury and are sexually exploited by foreign tourists."

The broadcast includes video of the Amazon Santana and interviews with some of the girls, their attorney and a Brazilian Federal Police officer sitting with a box of evidence marked 410/2007. This is the same case number with the same evidence that led the Brazilian federal police to indict former fishing tour operator Richard Schair for rape, operating a prostitution network and using minors as prostitutes.

The news report begins with police sweeping the streets for underage prostitutes. Then we see pictures of tourists on “ecological” trips through the jungles.

Reporter Luiz Carlos Azen then takes us to Manaus with the Amazon Santana and Santana II anchored in the background. These are the same fishing boats used by Schair before he was indicted and denied habeas corpus. This means that upon entering Brazil, he’ll be arrested.

Azen narrates a performance by Amazon Indians after which a spokesman says on subtitle that the girls of the “program” come to the villages. A “program” is sexual services provided by these underage prostitutes.

We are then taken to the office of the superintendent of the Brazilian Federal Police for the Manaus region of the Amazon District and meet Dr. Washington Magalhaes, the attorney who represents the girls who went to the police.

Tears started running down my face as I saw, for the first time, the Indian girls that I have written for. They are shown sitting on a wooden floor with a laptop nearby. They may never know about me or my work or the battles that I and others have fought on their behalf but hearing their brave voices in their face-masked interviews makes it all worth it.

They answer Azen’s questions about having sex aboard the Amazon Santana with those who speak English.

“How many men did you make sex with on this ship, the Amazon Santana?” Azen asks.

“With two,” the girl answers.

“Would you recognize them?” he asks.

“With certainty,” she answers.

“That nationality was?” he asks.

“Not from here, Brazilians were not.”

“They spoke what language?” he asks.

“They said everything in English,” she answered.

The second girl states “It was for me to use a drug that they were using called marijuana. It compelled me to make sex in a private room in the same motor boat, in a berth.” (1)

“The name of the boat,” Azen asks.

“Amazon Santana,” she replies.

Azen then takes us on a quick tour of the Amazon Santana before showing still pictures that include members of the Royal Order of Jesters fishing and partying with the girls. One has a picture of a fisherman in a Jester t-shirt with another Jester sporting a white beard similar to a national Jester officer who lives in Las Vegas. The Jesters involvement is best explained here.

From the article:

“Federal court documents filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, related to case number 07-21228, list 19 witnesses who are believed to be members of the Royal Order of Jesters (ROJ) AKA Shriners AKA Masons, who 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 witness list can be found here.

Back to the Brazilian news story.

We then meet Roberto Jesus Camara, the inspector in charge of Brazilian Federal Police investigation 410/2007. He and Azen discuss the case of American Richard W. Schair which includes violating the rights of the Brazilian Indigenous.

Azen then asks one of the girls “What is the name of your enticer/inveigher/seducer?”

“Richard” she answered.

“That nationality he was?” he asks.

“Wasn’t Brazilian, not. Was of the United States.”

Azen then discusses the indigenous violations with Dr. Washington and we see a map that shows exclusive Indian reservations and government preserves, protected by law against such trespassing.

Next, Azen takes us to what appears to be a shed but is instead the home of the girl who was left pregnant at age 13 after one of Schair’s fishing trips. We see worldly belongings on a bed and an empty refrigerator.

“Do you know the father of your son?” he asks.

“No,” she answers.

“Then there is a possibility that one of the two Americans is the father?” he asks.

“That possibility exists,” she answers.

“What would you like?” Azen concludes.

“So that they pay,” she answers.

RECORD

Broadcast and unofficial translation follows.

"Childhood in Danger: Companies that Sell Tour Packages in the Amazon Promote Orgies"

10/06/2010

Ecological tourism is the style in Europe, Japan and the U.S.. The purchasers of packages do not want traditional destinations, they want adventure. One of these destinations is the Brazilian Amazon. Girls are contracted to work on luxury boats and are exploited sexually by foreign tourists.

Video

0:00 A police case in the U.S. and Brazil, companies that sell tourism packages of adventure in the Amazon, promote orgies during the sport fishing trips.

00:14 Girls contracted to work on luxury boats are sexually exploited by foreign tourists. That is what reporters Luis Carlos Agnes, Aumari Ribeiro, Jr. and Lumis Umica show in the special segment “Childhood in Danger.”

0:27 The operation in a suburb of Manaus the capitol of Amazonas, is to find minor prostitutes. On this night “counselor tutilar” or Minor Authority were able to locate two, one 15 and one 17.

0:48 Azen: What do you find when you start to investigate the lives of these girls?

Police: The financial situation where they take food home, the money home and they sell themselves. The parents many times know that they are doing this, certainly the majority of the parents have the knowledge that the daughter is putting something in the house and they know that it is in exchange for their body.

1:17 Now the authorities are starting to collect proof that the problem is aggravated by foreign tourists.

1:39 On arrival they see the splendid side of the city, the inheritance from when the city grew because of the rubber barons. But the majority of the tourists also want to explore the jungle and the bounty of the waters.

2:01 The style is now in Japan, Europe and the U.S. is a type of tourism called “ecological tourism” who purchases the package no longer wants to know about the traditional destination, London, Paris, New York, they want adventure.

2:12 One of the preferred destinations is this here the Brazilian Amazon.

2:16 We are navigating on the waters of the Rio Negro river and these boats that you see there are part of this industry of tourism. That attracts people full of money who come from the exterior and who many times trip over the laws of Brazil.

2:32 Now we are on our way to Autazes, 150Km (92 miles) from Manaus. It is the destination of the trips that take the foreigner to the most isolated corners of the Amazon. Where fishing is bountiful.

2:47 It's not the only attraction for tourists, in the middle of the route they experiment with the easy ability to see up-close certain Indian groups.

3:00 In Sao Joao do Tupe they assist this ceremony of thanks for the bountiful plenty that comes from the land and the water.

3:11 But the son of the chief complains that the interests of those who come from the outside is not for the traditions or the beauty of the jungle. They come in the company of girl prostitutes, here in the tribe. So this bothers me some because it looks like we are playing, do you understand?

3:28 What Reginaldo wants to say is that the sexual tourism that has spread along the river communities.

3:35 The port of Autazes is where boats tie up looking for women to service the boats. The offers attract the girls who are faced with the hard economic situation.

3:47 Now the Brazilian authorities were forced to act because of accusation that came from the U.S.

3:56 Washington Magalhes Attorney. They were recruited with promises of work for one week which is what an excursion lasts, work aboard and such, under the promises of $100.00 daily in the end had to submit to sexual favors, exploitation of every order, orgies, images collected by the police themselves or taken by them in CD show that there were actually orgies.

4:23 The attorney who presented the witnesses to the Brazilian Federal Police, he represents 7 river girls, all were minors when the case happened in 2004. “In the case of my clients these/this initial meeting, briefing, reception was in from of the port of Autazes and there they ordered their employees, there are depositions that state this, to recruit actually.”

04:46 Nine witnesses agreed to be interviewed without showing their faces, they are afraid of being retaliated against for denouncing this crime.

5:05 Our producer showed on a computer pictures of some of the accused and they recognize the men that are on the boat. One states that she was taken by force to one of the cabins. “They just forced, understand? But I did not do, no because I cried, I squirmed, yelled and he went and opened the door. And later because he was not able he accused me of stealing from him.”

5:30 This other youngster was 16 years of age says that she was invited to participate in a ride and they got there and saw they are really good looking really and what happened was that they arrived they said that if we did not mind that we would go for a ride, and from there go to the boat for the ride. Was when one touched my hand, others on hands of the other girls and we went away.

5:57 Do you remember with how many men you had to have sex on this ship, Amazon Santana?

Just 2

Would you recognize them?

Certainly.

What nationality were they?

I don't know.

Were they Brazilian?

No.

What language did they speak?

They all spoke English.

06:24 The girl we are going to call “J” was 12 years old when she embarked.

He said that I was to use a drug that they were using called marijuana. One forced me to have sex with him. It was in a room reserved on the actual boat, a suite.

And the name of the boat was?

Amazon Santana.

06:46 The case is also being investigated by the FBI, the American police, because it involves U.S. citizens. Here in Brazil the Federal Police made a search of those 2 boats involved, this over here Amazon Santana and Santana I. That where the crimes would have happened involving the tourists and the minor Brazilians. They are luxurious yachts with various cabins. The packages sell for $4,500.00 in the U.S. without the airfare.

7:25 In the investigation the Federal Police obtained pictures like these and proved that they were taken aboard by crewmembers and the girls.

7:39 “Delegado Roberto Camara” Inspector Camara. The instruction of the investigation was based primarily on the statements of the victims, surveillance of some of these trips, seeing women on the boats utilized by the agency.

The investigation which has already been sent to the “Ministerio Publico Federal” or “Federal Attorney,” there were indicted the owner of the agency in Brazil and the man who sold the trips in the U.S., the American Richard
Wayne Schair, who is accused of raping the girl “J.”

8:23 Azen asks Do you remember the name of your coaxer/seducer?

Richard

What was his nationality?

He was not Brazilian, no. Was from the U.S.

8:36 The investigation shows how the route of sexual fishing operated from 2000 to 2007, at least 20 girls were victims.

Of the clients of the attorney Washington, 5 were Indians.

The investigation has been examining and contemplates the depositions that show, for example, agent of the Indian agency (FUNAI) facilitated the entrance of these
excursions, facilitated paid or not, the fact that it is illegal and irregular because they were in prohibited areas. You can only enter in Indian areas with the consent of the Indian agents.

9:21 Even today in the U.S. companies that sell fishing packages in the Amazon promote exclusive access into Indian areas. In this case the reservations of Tapera, Xeurine, Marmelos Jufari, all in the Amazon.

9:38 In a fishing season that last from August through March, the Federal Police calculates that these companies can make almost $2,000,000.00, a fortune, that almost all stays in the U.S. and that here in Brazil leaves a trail of crimes and abuses.

9:57 Attracted to provide services, in the end, cleaning, domestic services, cleaning the boat, cooking, laundry, in the end they were required to service and offered $100.00 per night & left with R$30.00 or R$40.00 ($15.00-$20.00), the most that they were gifted was R$50.00 ($25.00).

10:19 The FBI agents who also investigate the case were in Autazes in the house of this young lady of Indian origin. They found the same poverty level that we are witnessing, a fridge practically empty, they heard dramatic testimony. She states that at 17 she accepted an offer to work on the yacht Amazon Santana. She was convinced by 2 foreigners to have sexual relations. On the trip lost her virginity, and believes that became pregnant of one of them.

Do you know who is the father of your son?

No.

Is there the possibility that one of the Americans is the father?

Exists.

What would you like to happen now?

That they pay for what they have done.

11:07 They are poor children, children that may have the difficulty of studying, education is precarious and there arrives a foreigner with $$$. Makes it easy. Today tourism must be configured as tourism.

All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost" must include the following credit line: From http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/ Copyright © 2010 by Sandy Frost. Used by permission.

(1) Schair currently acts as a real estate salesman near Atlanta, Georgia. Information on his previous marijuana convictions can be found here and here.

The June 7 criminal complaint in the case of United States of America v. Michael Lesinski paints a clear picture of “Mirth and Merriment,” Royal Order of Jesters style.

That’s how they describe their activities to the IRS, you know.

The Jesters tell the IRS that their tax exempt mission is “promoting fellowship and fraternalism and extending good cheer to others” and that they hold annual events “devoted to fraternalism and spreading the gospel of mirth and good cheer.”

Apparently, this is code for renting a limo to get about a dozen “Jester Girls” from the Buffalo, New York airport to work as prostitutes at a Jester national meeting held in Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada.

Lesinski is charged with “knowingly, willfully and unlawfully combining, conspiring and agreeing together with others, including Ronald Tills, to commit an offense against the United States, that is to knowingly transport women in interstate and foreign commerce, with the intent that said women engage in prostitution, in violation of Title 18 (Mann Act) and that at least one overt act was committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, in that the defendant, Michael Lesinski, on April 18, 2005, did rent limousines in order to transport said women from the Buffalo airport to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, with the intent that the women engage in prostitution.”

The Royal Order of Jesters is an appendant body of Masonry. Once one becomes a Master Mason, they can join other groups such as the Scottish Rite, Knights Templar and Shriners. The Shriners are best known for their red fezzes and supporting a network of 21 hospitals that provide free medical care to burned and crippled children. One must first be a secretly invited Shriner before joining the Jesters.

This all started when Dan Herbeck and Aaron Besecker of the Buffalo News reported on March 9, 2008 that three Jesters were under investigation after getting caught in an FBI human trafficking sting. All three confessed and pleaded guilty to either conspiring to or violating the Mann Act after they were caught driving an illegal alien Asian woman from a Buffalo massage parlor under surveillance for prostitution to a weekend meeting of the Royal Order of Jesters in eastern Kentucky.

Lesinski’s complaint begins by listing agencies that make up the New York Human Trafficking Task Force and Alliance that are investigating the Jesters. These include the FBI, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE, and deputies from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. It then lists the criminal statute allegedly violated, that being the Mann Act.

Next, and for the first time, the Royal Order of Jesters are defined in their own self-titled section.

It begins:

“The Royal Order of Jesters (“ROJ”) is a worldwide fraternal organization whose membership is limited to individuals invited to join by other members. The motto of the ROJ is ‘mirth is king.’ The ROJ has local chapters or ‘courts.’ On occasion, a local court or group of local courts in the same geographical area sponsor social gatherings known as ‘books of the play’ or ‘books.’ The sponsoring courts organize the ‘books’ and arrange for food, lodging, and entertainment at the ‘books.’ The ROJ also sponsors a yearly national ‘book,’ the equivalent of a national convention. In April, 2005, the Jester’s national book was held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.”

“As set forth below, a typical feature of a ‘book of the play’ is the presence of prostitutes (‘Jester Girls’) who engage in commercial sex acts with members of the ROJ. Arrangements for the prostitutes are generally made by the organizer of the ‘books,’ or the region hosting the national ‘book.’ On occasion, individual Jesters make arrangements to transport prostitutes to ‘books.’”

According to the complaint, investigators began interviewing several Jesters in January and February of 2008. Jester John Trowbridge, a retired captain with the Lockport, New York, Police Department, told investigators about how he attended a number of “books” throughout the United States and Canada that provided prostitutes for those members in attendance.

Trowbridge described a number of occasions where members of the Buffalo Court, including Ronald Tills, then a New York State Supreme Court Judge, and his law clerk, Michael Stebick, made arrangements for Jester Girls to attend “books.” Tills was in charge of getting the prostitutes to the Jesters’ national “book.”

According to his plea agreement, in or about spring, 2006, Tills admitted to coordinating the prostitute’s travel with national Jester officers.

Trowbridge also described how Tills was in charge of getting the Jester Girls to the national meeting and that the judge asked Lesinski to take care of it.

Lesinski, at the time, was a deputy sheriff with the Erie County Sheriff’s Department.

Trowbridge then disclosed that Lesinski rented a limousine to transport about a dozen prostitutes from Buffalo to Canada.

The Jesters’ 2005 tax return lists $70, 049 for transportation. The complaint includes a receipt from Lakeview Limousine that indicates a deposit of $980 was paid for by check, with a total cost of $1,175.

The complaint then includes co-conspirator Michael Stebick’s description of how Jester ‘books’ are typically held in hotel hospitality rooms where members can pick from a list of Jester Girl prostitutes. It continues that in April, 2008, Trowbridge provided investigators with contact information for the 13 prostitutes as he’d spoken with each of them as they gathered at the Buffalo airport though there were other prostitutes he’d not spoken with.

In June 2008 Tills told investigators that there were about 30 women at the national book and “described a network of members who had the ability to supply such women.” It was then that he identified Lesinski’s renting of two limousines that took the prostitutes to Canada.

According to “Sex Traffic Rises, Along With Scramble for Solutions” by We-news correspondent Rich Daly:

“These (2010 United States Human Trafficking Report) statistics come out as Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and co-chair of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus, is co-sponsoring a bill to establish an international registry of known sex offenders to help foreign and U.S. law enforcement agencies crack down on underage sex tourism also linked to trafficking.

‘This is modern day slavery and it's a winnable war,’ Smith said in an interview with Women's eNews.

The Smith bill, called the International Megan's Law, was approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on April 28 and could come up for a House vote in the next few weeks, Smith said.”

Representative Smith’s bill can be found here. In summary, H.R. 1623:

• Requires registered sex offenders to notify appropriate jurisdictions of their intent to travel not later than 21 days before their departure or arrival in the United States. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years for failure to report such travel.
• Requires diplomatic or consular missions in each foreign country to establish and maintain a countrywide sex offender registry for sex offenders from the United States who temporarily or permanently reside in such country.
• Directs the Commissioner of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to issue directives for the assessment of sex offenders whose travel is reported to determine whether such offenders are high risk sex offenders.
• Directs the President to establish the International Sex Offender Travel Center to monitor the travel of high risk sex offenders.
• Authorizes the Secretary of State to rescind the passports of individuals awaiting trial for a sex offense against a minor or a permanent resident who has been convicted of such an offense.
• Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make convicted sex offenders inadmissible to the United States.

If passed as written, these new international sex offender laws would rescind the passports of any Jesters on trial for things like child sex tourism and require any other registered sex offenders to report their intention to leave the country at least 21 days before doing so.

All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost" must include the following credit line: From http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com. Copyright (c) 2010 by Sandy Frost. Used by permission.

I was puttering around the other night and got the urge to find the Jesters most recent tax returns.

I found them on Guidestar and armed with a yellow highlighter, sticky notes and legal pad, began scanning the categories, dollars and answers reported.

My brain started screaming "WTF?" until I got up and started pacing around as I couldn't believe what I was reading.

You'd fall asleep.

I was nearly running in place.

Over three years ago, I was contacted by a Shriner who'd been working with a former IRS agent. He asked me to investigate his own because expert analysis of Shriner tax returns revealed "discrepancies."

This all started with allegations of the misuse of charitable donations, retaliation and tax fraud.

We're WAY beyond that now.

So, the Shriners sued these guys, my sources, for defamation after one claimed the charity was being investigated by the state of Pennsylvania. The Shriners, among other things, named me as a secondary party of interest and used "production of documents" in an attempt to get their paws on otherwise protected communications between me and the whistleblowers to see if they were telling me what to write and/or if they were writing articles for me.

What an insult.

Then, I began wondering "What are the Shriners so desperate to hide?"

The lawsuit was settled out of court and today, you're reading about the Shriners' secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters and prostitution.

I've been at this since April, 2006, digging into all sorts of documents as well as countless tax returns and have reached a bizarre conclusion that ends, for the first time, at a dead end.

Well, except for an unfounded rumor.

Based on officers named on tax returns as well as in a secret directory, my bizarre conclusion is that:

The Shriners are controlled by their secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters. And Jester tax returns reveal that the Royal Order of Jesters is controlled by their secret sub-group, the Secret Order of Brothers in Blood or S.O.B.I.B.

I have no idea what this means except for the possibility that the Shriners are controlled by a bunch of guys who belong to a nationwide group described by a U.S. Attorney as having members who get prostitutes for their weekend meetings.

Or if the unfounded rumors are true, the Jesters are controlled by a bunch of guys who have a thing for menstrual blood. Or girls. Or maybe both. But really, I have no idea as this is just a wild rumor.

Interestingly, the Jesters report on their latest tax return that they spent over $13,000 on "Rituals."

What we do know is that three Jesters were convicted after getting caught in an FBI human trafficking sting for taking illegal alien prostitutes to their weekend parties.

One of those caught, a former judge, will soon be heading to federal prison for 18 months. He pleaded guilty to violating the Mann Act and got a reduced sentence for cooperating with an investigation into the Jesters for the sexual exploitation of minors and travel out of the country for those purposes.

He's a S.O.B.I.B. too.

We also know that the former fishing tour operator who took 19 Jesters fishing on the Amazon was indicted by the Brazilian federal police last April for allegedly providing underage prostitutes for his North American fishing clients.

Per "Newsitorial: Schair's Failed Application for Habeas Corpus Confirms Indictment, Implicates Jesters" :

"A failed application for habeas corpus has made public a court file that details the evidence for which former fishing tour operator Richard W. Schair was indicted by the Brazilian federal police as they investigated the sexual exploitation of minor Indian girls living along the Amazon. The file includes a client manifest that names three members of the Shriners secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters (ROJ)."

Schair had sued a competitor for defamation for alleging his involvement with prostitution. A witness list for the defense names 19 Jesters who were expected to testify about their first hand knowledge of fishing trips to Brazil and sex with underage prostitutes. Eye witness depositions in the case testify that the Jesters asked to be called "Masons" and asked for girls over 13.

One must first be a Master Mason to join groups like the Scottish Rite, the Knights Templar and the Shriners.

One must be an invited Shriner to join the Royal Order of Jesters.

And at this point, I have no idea about how a Jester joins the S.O.B.I.B. or what they do at their meetings other than meet as "Brothers in Blood."

As evidence mounted against him, Schair paid the defendant $15K to settle out of court.

One guy on the witness list, Samuel "Scutter" Newton of Las Vegas, Nevada links this case to the Jester National Court, as he's listed on their 2007 tax return as an officer.

A comparison of the Jester's national officers to a secret directory reveals that eight out of nine national officers are also members of the S.O.B.I.B., including Newton, who is named on both.

All the officers listed on the Jesters' 2006 tax return are also in the S.O.B.I.B. and all but two listed on the 2005 tax return are in the S.O.B.I.B. including:

William Siders

Robert M. Haynes

John T. Stafford

James M. Lake PRD

Taylor E. Best

Gary Martin

Dennis R. Schueler

Raymond Grannis

Paul A. Stradman

John T. Stradtman

Robert C. Davis

Alex Rogers - Business Administrator

Now, back to the tax returns.

Nonprofit groups file tax returns like everyone else because they're corporations, just nonprofit. That means they don't make any money and no one is supposed to benefit. These groups get these tax breaks because they're supposed to benefit society like helping the needy or finding homes for animals.

The Jester's exempt purpose is:

"Promoting fellowship and fraternalism and extending assistance and good cheer to others."
"Management by Mirth" reports that:

* Eleven out of twelve of Shriner Hospitals for Children (SHC) trustees are Jesters.

* Fourteen out of twenty one of those listed on the SHC 2006 tax returns are Jesters.

* Nine out of fourteen of those listed on the 2006 fraternal tax return are Jesters.

This could help explain the hospital's financial woes that nearly led to closures. Which, for those faithful Shriners who have dedicated their lives to supporting the hospitals, was worst case scenario. The last Shriner national convention saw a vote to keep the hospitals open as well as throw out former SHC CEO, Ralph Semb.

An internal investigation investigated Semb and Imperial Treasurer Gene Bracewell and, among other things, recommended that they be reprimanded for lobbying on behalf of a fundraiser who kept $43 millin out of $47 million raised for the hospitals.

Last I knew, both were Jesters and Semb's pictured here in the S.O.B.I.B. directory.

Now, the Shriners are made up of two nonprofit components, a 501c10 fraternity made up of members and a 501c3 charity of 22 hospitals that provide free medical care to burned and crippled children.

Same for the Jesters, who somehow convinced the IRS to grant them a 501c3 charitable classification for operating a "museum" out of their new headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Marion county assessor rejected the Jesters application for a property tax exemption because they didn't buy it but on appeal, the exemption was granted because executive director Alex Rogers convinced the tax board that the Royal Order of Jesters was an appendant group of Masonry.

So, what kind of a museum lists it's worth as $1.4 million but has no employees, phone or computers; nor does it pay for utilities?

The museum's directors all are in the S.O.B.I.B. including:

Hugh Libby

Ray Thagard

George Burt

Ray Grannis

James White

Henry Everett

Here's the S.O.B.I.B. Toast:

"A Few Good l\len and A Few Good Times"

To the Chap who seeks

Those of his kind

Who treasure the drink

And savor the wine.

An Evangel of Mirth

Time and again

Found in the company

Of a Few Good Men.

A Toast to the One

Who reveres the food.

Cursed by his wife in "surly" mood

For quite often he's mocked

By those who malign

That Fellow who cherishes

A Few Good Times.

So here's to our Order

And those we call Brother.

To the bond that binds us

One to the other.

For there are "Traveling" groups of admirable intent

With glossy mottos and rhymes

But as for us, it's the simple notion

Of a Few Good Men, and a Few Good Times.

A copy of the S.O.B.I.B directory, including members' pictures and contact information, can be found here.

All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost" must include the following credit line: From http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com. Copyright (c) 2009 by Sandy Frost. Used by permission.

Seven U.S. defendants charged for their activity in a global child pornography trafficking enterprise were convicted today in the Northern District of Florida following a six-day jury trial.

The federal jury convicted the defendants of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise; conspiracy to advertise, transport, ship, receive and possess child pornography; advertising child pornography, transporting child pornography, receiving child pornography and obstruction of justice.

A newspaper in Ashland, Kentucky picks up on their end of the FBI's investigation into the Royal Order of Jesters prostitution scandal.

"A former New York Supreme Court official was sentenced in federal court last month for using his motor home to transport an illegal alien prostitute to a convention that took place in Ashland in 2005."

Note: Updated with links 9/30/08.

Celebrities who support charities have been in the news lately.

Passionate philanthropist Paul Newman passed on last Saturday.

MSNBC ran a story last Friday about celebrities and their charities. It explains:

“For today’s celebs, charity work is almost as much a part of the job as walking the red carpet. Famous names have become affiliated with preventing domestic violence, curing breast cancer, fixing smiles and saving farms from development.”

The article continues:

“You have to care about something other than what’s going to make you money,” said Morris L. Reid, managing director of Westin Rinehart, a firm that does brand strategy for public figures. “You have to be charitable. It shows that you care about someone other than yourself. It also shows that you are in touch with the average American’s needs and plights.”

Charity groups like the Shriners Hospitals for Children (SHC) work hard to attract sponsors and donors.

Who doesn’t want to help the $8 billion network of 22 hospitals that provides free medical care to burned and crippled children?

Two celebrities have recently thrown their hats, or helmets, into the Shriners ring.

Grammy winning pop star Justin Timberlake is sponsoring a Shriners PGA tournament scheduled for October 13 - 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

NASCAR driver David Ragan recently named the Shriners Hospitals for Children as his official charity. He began racing in a Shriner-themed helmet last weekend and will soon show off his car’s new Shriners Hospital themed paint job.

When asked about how celebrities are supporting the Shriners, presumably without knowing about their links to theft, mismanagement and related sex crimes, Reid responded “You have to do your homework. Whether you’re a celebrity or someone brokering deals like this, you need to dig a little deeper.”

“Ultimately, the client is only as reputable as the brands that they are associated with,” he explained. “But it’s a two way street. The celebrity and the charity can’t go into this blind. Both must exercise due diligence and dig and ask the hard questions. You can’t just rely on what each says. Both must look for the obvious. It’s just the smart thing to do.”

On the surface, the Shriners are those all American pillars of the community who proudly wear their red fezzes as they support their hospitals.

Such pillars include a former New York state Supreme Court judge, a retired police captain and a former Erie county prosecutor. It just so happens that these pillars were caught by the FBI in a human trafficking sting. The judge, the police captain and prosecutor all pleaded guilty to transporting prostitutes across state lines to meetings of a Shriner secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters.

According to their plea agreements, the U.S. Attorney describes the Jesters are a nationwide group with guys in local chapters who get prostitutes for their weekend parties.

The judge, Ronald Tills, admitted, among other things, to working with representatives of the Jesters’ National Court to get prostitutes to the same Canadian hotel where their national meeting was being held.

No wonder the Shriners spent millions of dollars the past year trying to convince their members, donors, and the public that they are “the world’s greatest philanthropy” because they may soon be known as “the world’s greatest non profit scandal.”

If they had a history of submitting complete and accurate tax returns, the IRS and the public would know that seven out of twelve on the Shriners Hospitals Board of Governors are also Jesters.

And who convinced the IRS that the Jesters qualify as a non profit group? Their 2006 tax return shows that though they lost $14,000, Jesters national spent over $575,000 on one of their weekend parties.

I know.

Some of you are thinking "Partying with prostitutes at tax payer expense? Where do I sign up?"

First, you apply to your local Masonic lodge. If you are accepted into "the craft," you can complete three “degrees” to become a Master Mason who can then join sub-groups like the Knights Templar, the Scottish Rite and the Shriners.

The Shriners are those red fez wearing secret hand shakers who “have fun while helping kids,” most of whom have no idea that their leaders are involved with such things.

Selected Shriners are then secretly invited to join the Royal Order of Jesters.

So, famous guys, who did your homework? What would you have done if you had known:

• An internal committee investigated Shriner leaders for allegedly retaliating against an executive by firing him for not hiring a fundraiser who kept $43 million out of $47 million raised on behalf of the hospitals, who only got $2.5 million?

•Over a million dollars in personal mortgages was not reported to the IRS?

•The Jesters are being investigated by the feds for coordinating prostitution nationwide?

But wait! There’s more!

What about the retaliation, cultural misappropriation, warning letters from the FDA and Office of Human Research Protection, civil rights violations, and child sex tourism?

Retaliation?

The Shriners retaliated against Shriner whistleblower Vernon Hill and former IRS agent Paul Dolnier by suing them for defamation after they asked questions like “Where does all the money go?” and “Why are your tax returns so messed up?”

Cultural misappropriation?

The Shriners greeting "Es Salamu Aleikum" is Arabic for "Peace Be To God." They meet in mosques with names like Bagdad, Mohammed, Moslem, Syria and Tehran. Have the Shriners hijacked symbols of Islamic unity, costumes, and ceremonial practices in ways that could be viewed by others as offensive forms of ridicule, mockery or disrespect?

Warning letters from the FDA and Office of Human Research Protection?

Two Shriner Hospitals received three 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. Ten letters sent by the Office of Human Research Protection cited similar violations.

Civil Rights Violations?

Two Hispanic women filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Chicago Shriners Hospital after the EEOC found that hospital staff had violated their civil rights, discriminated against them and retaliated against them.

Child sex tourism?

Nineteen members of the Royal Order of Jesters were called as witnesses in a federal lawsuit between fishing tour operators to testify about their first hand knowledge of sex with minors while on a sanctioned fishing trip to Brazil.

But hey, don’t take my word for it.

Check the FBI press releases, documents in the PACER federal court system, AP, MSNBC, Newsday, the Buffalo News, and the New York Times.

So, Justin, maybe you should have asked “What You Got?” because, it looks like the Shriners got you and the PGA by the, uh, golf balls.

Need to take a mulligan?

And David, you said it when you proclaimed “I don’t think there is a better way to tell the world about amazing organization than to display their name on my helmet and car.”

The Shriners spent over $12 million this past year convincing everyone just how amazing they are.

Dudes, you're sponsoring a charity associated with white collar crime, prostitution and human trafficking.

I’ve done my homework.

Too bad you didn’t do yours.

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.

Warning: Adult Content.

Download Alert! Get a cup of coffee, put your feet up and prepare for lengthy downloads.

Editor’s Note: This is not about those faithful Shriners who get up at zero dawn thirty to put on their clown makeup and drive to the hospital to put a smile on the face of burned and crippled children. This is not about those hardworking Shriners who spend their Saturdays building porches or putting on a fish fry or marching proudly in parades. The focus of this investigation has been on non profit transparency, disclosure and accountability and those who abuse their positions of public trust for private gain.

Sandy Frost
Starbucks, WA
Thursday, September 11, 2008

A September 4, 2008 Department of Justice press release reports that:

“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 charge carries a maximum penalty of ten (10) years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.”

The Mann Act was born of the United States White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910. It prohibited white slavery, banned the interstate transport of females for “immoral purposes” and addressed prostitution, immorality, and human trafficking.

On March 9, 2008, The Buffalo News first reported that Judge Tills had resigned after it was learned that the FBI was investigating him, retired police captain John Trowbridge and Tills’ former law clerk, Michael Stebick, for taking prostitutes across state lines to parties held by a nationwide men’s group called the Royal Order of Jesters.

On March 20, 2008, Trowbridge pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the Mann Act, article here. His plea agreement can be read here.

On August 7, 2008, Stebick pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiring to violate the Mann Act, article here. His plea agreement can be read here.

On September 4, 2008, Tills also pleaded guilty and you’re reading about that now. His plea agreement can be read here.

The Royal Order of Jesters is a secret sub-group of the Shriners, best known for their red fezzes, secret handshakes and running a network of 22 hospitals that provide free medical care to burned and crippled children.

Memberships go like this.

A man must first become a Master Mason before he can become a Shriner, who then must be invited to become a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. There are approximately 2 million Masons, 350,000 Shriners and 24,000 Jesters in America.

The IRS has classified both the Shriners and Jesters as non profit organizations. The Shriners exempt purpose is to support their hospitals. The Jesters exempt purpose is to “Hold annual events which were devoted to fraternalism and spreading the gospel of mirth and good cheer.”

Here is the Jester mascot, Billiken.

Here’s what Tills’ plea agreement says.

The parties agree that in or about September, 2001, Tills was the Director of the Buffalo chapter of the Royal Order of Jesters Court #22 and was responsible for arranging for the presence of a number of prostitutes from outside New York State to attend the Jester’s meeting in Dunkirk, New York in order to have sex with the members for money. Tills made several calls to women for this purpose and also gave a list of names and telephone numbers of additional women to Michael Stebick to do the same. Although some of these women were unable to attend due to flight cancellations following the national tragedies on September 11, 2001, other women drove to the Dunkirk meeting by car at Tills’ and Stebick’s invitation, including one from Toronto and one from Minnesota and did engage in various sex acts, including sexual intercourse , with the Jesters in exchange for money.

In other words, after nearly 3,000 died in the horrific suicide attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, these officers of the court didn’t think to cancel their weekend bash. Tills and Stebick were instead more concerned about getting the prostitutes to their meeting because the 9/11 tragedy messed up their transportation plans.

The parties also agree that in or about Spring, 2006, Tills arranged for the transportation of prostitutes from the Buffalo airport to the Jesters’ national meeting then being held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The women came from various parts of the United States to the Jesters’ meeting to have sex with the members for money. 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. Jesters then took the prostitutes from the Buffalo airport to their national meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, where the women engaged in various sex acts, including sexual intercourse, with the Jesters for money.

According to the Jesters 2006 tax return, the national court spent nearly $600,000 on their annual Book of the Play weekend, which may or may not have been this same national meeting. Their 2005 tax return coincides with this same meeting and lists those Officers of the National Court of the Royal Order of Jesters who may have worked with Tills.

They include William Siders, Royal Stage Manager, Robert H. Haynes, Royal Leading Lady, Paul A. Stradman, Royal Heavy Man, John T. Stradtman, Royal Property Man, James M. Lake, P.R.D., Royal Treasurer, Robert C. Davis, Royal Director, Dennis R. Schueler, Royal Leading Man, Taylor E. Best, Royal Tragedian, Gary N. Martin, Royal Impresario, Raymond Grannis, Royal Prelate and Alex Rogers, Executive Director.

Rogers has been quoted as saying the Jesters try to take the "highest caliber Shriners we can get" who distinguish themselves in the community and that they try to keep the “cream of the crop.” Rogers has also said that he had no information about Tills, or whether he still holds a leadership post in the Buffalo Jesters group.

Tills also admitted to and the parties agreed that:

• On or about October 28, 2005, Tills, along with John Trowbridge and Michael Stebick, knowingly transported an illegal alien from New York to Kentucky to engage in prostitution.

• Tills paid this same woman sums of money to engage in sexual acts with him at a massage parlor named Golden Acupressure, located in North Tonawanda, New York.

• During the weekend of October 28 - 30, 2005, Tills knowingly transported, along with Trowbridge and Stebick, a woman from New York to a Jester meeting in Kentucky to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity and be paid for it.

• In or about Fall, 2006, Tills and 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 and be paid for it.

• Tills and Trowbridge had engaged in various sexual acts with the same illegal alien at the Golden Acupressure massage parlor and paid her for it.

• In or about Fall, 2006, 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.

• Tills and other Jesters flew with the same woman from Buffalo, New York to the Florida Jester meeting.

• In or about October, 2007, 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.

• Tills arranged for the women to be transported from the Buffalo airport by other Jesters who then transported them to the meeting in Canada to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activity and be paid for it.

On Thursday, December 8, 2005, New York Congressman Thomas Reynolds (R - NY) cited Tills’ accomplishments to Congress in honor of his retirement including being:

• A veteran of the United States Army Reserve

• An assistant town attorney and town justice

• A New York state assemblyman

• Chairman of the Assembly’s Select Committee of the Assembly’s Select Committee for Revision of Corporation Law

• Nominated by Governor George E. Pataki and confirmed by the NY Senate to the State Court of Claims, July, 1995

• An acting Supreme Court Justice

• A member of the Lions, Chamber of Commerce, Hamburg Volunteer Fire Company

• Potentate of the Ismailia Shrine Temple

• Director and President of the Shrine Oasis

• Director of the Buffalo Court #22 of the Jesters.

• Proctor of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York

In 2005, Tills was appointed to the Commissioners of Appeals for the same Grand Lodge. According to the Grand Lodge’s 2008 “Be It Known” pronouncement, Tills resigned from this position midterm. Questions to the New York Grand Lodge about Tills’ Masonic status and possible disciplinary actions remain stonewalled.

According to the current potentate of the Ismailia Temple, he signed Tills demit from the Shrine in March, 2008. This means Tills was not expelled and instead was given the option to rejoin at any time in the future as long as he catches up on past dues.

Tills is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2009.

So, how closely related are the Royal Order of Jesters to the Shriners?

Like brothers.

The Royal Order of Jesters bylaws state:

• The Annual Meeting of the National Court of the Royal Order of Jesters shall be held on the day preceding the annual meeting of the Imperial Council, A.A.O.N.M.S., at the city chosen for such meeting, or at such time or place chosen and voted by the National Court.

• A subordinate court may be established by the National Court in a jurisdiction where a temple of A.A.O.N.M.S. is located and where a Subordinate Court does not exist upon petition there for by not less than (13) Nobles of the Mystic Shrine all of whom shall be actual residents of and who maintain their domiciles in the jurisdiction of said temple of A.A.O.N.M.S.

• Upon action of the Imperial Council A.A.O.N.M.S. issuing a dispensation for a new temple A.A.O.N.M.S., the National Court may, upon application of the required number of Nobles of the A.A.O.N.M.S. for a new Subordinate Court and the recommendation of the Charters and Dispensations Committee, and the approval of the Royal Director and Royal Impresario, issue a dispensation for a Subordinate Court of Royal Order of Jesters.

• After one year under dispensation and upon recommendation of the Charters and Dispensations Committee, the Royal Director and Royal Impresario shall issue a charter to said Court under dispensation after a Charter for a Shrine Temple has been granted.

• The territorial jurisdiction of a Subordinate Court shall be the same as that provided by the By Laws of the Imperial Council A.A.O.N.M.S. for the Temple of that Order located at or nearest to the City in which the Subordinate Court was granted a charter to hold such Court, as of July 1, 1999.

• The jurisdiction of the Subordinate Court shall be exclusive in the Oasis of the Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. where the Subordinate Court is located and in the city in which such Subordinate Court was granted a Charter to hold such Subordinate Court, as of July 1, 1999.

• A Member of the Royal Order of Jesters must be in good standing in a Temple of the A.A.O.N.M.S. Termination of membership in his Temple likewise terminates his membership in the Royal Order of Jesters.

• If a Noble is and for at least six (6) months has been an actual resident and has maintained his domicile in the jurisdiction of a Subordinate Court of the Royal Order of Jesters, as defined by Article VII, Section 10, he shall be eligible for election to membership in that Subordinate Court, providing he is in good standing in his own Temple A.A.O.N.M.S.

So, are other Jesters in positions of Shriner leadership?

Yes.

And they also appear to be in trouble.

Ralph Semb, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, is not only a Jester; he’s a member of the secret Jester group, the SOBIB, which stands for “Society of Brothers in Blood.” There are no copyright marks or any other indications that this "Confidential Membership Directory" is in any way proprietary.

Last year, Semb and fellow Jester and Imperial treasurer Gene Bracewell, were investigated by a committee of Shriner leaders for allegations that:

•Semb and Bracewell violated the Shriners Code of Ethics

•Semb retaliated against the hospitals’ Director of Development, Edgar McGonigal, by firing him over a fundraising contract dispute.

•Semb and Bracewell both used subterfuge to negatively influence McGonigal’s employee evaluations so he could be fired again.

•Semb knowingly executed a fraudulent tax return.

•Bracewell got a free trip from the fundraiser he was lobbying for.

•Controller Willard Fawcett resigned because "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."

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

The Interim Report revealed how both Semb and Bracewell pushed hard to reinstate contracts with one specific fund-raising company, Vantage Direct Marketing Services. Vantage 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. In other words, if someone donated $100 during these campaigns, Vantage kept $95 and the hospitals got only $5.

The committee’s interim report can be read
here.

The committee members also 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’s presentation was booed down last July during a business meeting at the last Shriner convention and Semb was ceremoniously “re-elected” by those members who failed to review report’s findings.

“Internal Shriner Report Confirms Corruption?” Can be read here.

Additionally, seven of twelve on the Shriners Hospitals for Children Board of Trustees are also Jesters. In addition to Semb and Bracewell, they include W. Brandt Bede M.D., Charles A. Claypool, Raul L. Frevel, Sr., Immediate past Imperial Potentate Bernard J. Lemieux M.D., and Gary Dunwoody.

Gene Bracewell also sits on the Imperial Divan and is the current Imperial Treasurer.

In addition to Bracewell, others on the Imperial Divan who are also Jesters include:

Alan W. Madsen, current Imperial High Priest and Prophet and Director of the Royal Order of Jesters Court #109 in Charlotte, N.C.

Jack Jones, current Imperial Recorder and member of the Royal Order of Jesters.

Jerry Gantt, current Imperial Second Ceremonial Master, chairman emeritus of the Houston Shriners Hospital Board of Governors and past director of Houston Court #136 Royal Order of Jesters.

Other influential Jesters include the head of a law enforcement organization in Louisiana, the vice president of a commercial bank in Maryland, and a judge and regional planner in Florida

One Jester who arranged for prostitutes confessed all after he was caught by his wife. Her interview can be read here.

The long arm of this international human trafficking investigation may also be reaching out to those 19 Jesters called as witnesses in a libel/slander lawsuit between two fishing tour operators. They were expected to testify about their first hand knowledge of sex with minors while on a Jesters’ sanctioned fishing trip to Brazil.

“’Jesters’ To Testify about Illegal Drugs, Child Prostitution?” can be read here.

“Brazilian Fishing Trip Depositions: ‘Masons’ Pictured Having Sex with Teen Prostitutes?” can be read here.

“Child Sex Tourism: Brazilian Teens Testify About Being Lured into Minor Prostitution for American Tourists” can be read here.

And what about this investigation?

It is being conducted by New York Western District's Human Trafficking Task Force and Alliance.

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."

These groups include the FBI, Erie County Sheriff's Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE, Custom and Border Protection, United States Border Patrol with the assistance of the Niagara County Sherriff's Office and the Tonawanda Police Department. The investigation is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati, who is also in charge of the task force. When asked about the investigation, Moscati said "We will go wherever the evidence leads us."

At the end of the day, these guilty pleas beg the following questions:

• Did Officers of the Royal Order of Jesters hustle the IRS and manipulate the non profit system so they could party with prostitutes at tax payer expense?

• Do the Royal Order of Jesters rely on their influential members to operate and protect an international prostitution syndicate that specializes in human trafficking?

• Do these Shriners AKA Jesters act as if they are above the law because “Shrine law does not include the law of the land” and they are, above all else, sworn to protect the brotherhood?

• Are the Shriners ongoing problems with theft, embezzlement and mismanagement because they are run by a bunch of Jesters?

Only the FBI, the Human Trafficking Task Force and IRS can know for sure.

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.

Former Shriners Hospital CFO Pleads Guilty to Stealing
More Than $828,000 from Shriners Hospital

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.

What the deputies did or how they are associated with the Jesters' taking prostitutes across state lines is still unclear, but investigators with the human trafficking task force are looking at the possibility the two went to Jesters' parties and "patronized prostitutes."

Editor’s Note: Apology to those who are reading this editorial and already know the complex organizationals. I am explaining these relationships for those who don’t. – Sandy Frost, Starbucks, Washington

The Shriners seem to have 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 is taking place from May 7 to 10 in Washington, DC. Over 800 Masonic leaders will be joining the Grand Masters from over 100 countries for three days of sessions, receptions and ceremonies for the first time in our nation’s capitol.

Before getting into this analysis, let’s look at how these groups are related.

First, a man applies for membership at a local Masonic lodge, also known as the Blue Lodge. Once accepted, he must pass tests and complete rituals to advance through three degrees to become a Master Mason.

In North America, Masonic lodges are grouped by state and are governed by one Grand Lodge. There is no Grand Lodge of America; rather the Grand Master of each state’s Masonic Grand Lodge has supreme authority over all Masons in that state. Some international grand lodges oversee a country or a region. There are about three million Masons in North America and about two million worldwide.

In North America, a Master Mason can branch out and join other “appendant” groups such as the Scottish Rite, the Knights Templar or the Shriners.

Once a Master Mason becomes a Shriner, he joins the Red-Fez wearing fraternity of 350,000 or so who meet in 191 North American temples. Though they are Master Masons, some seem to disconnect from and turn their back on Freemasonry to become “Shriners first,” who then dedicate their lives to overseeing and supporting their $13 billion network of 22 hospitals that provides free medical care to burned or crippled children at tax payer expense.

Both the Shriner hospitals and fraternity are non profit groups that are overseen by their own board of directors, with some board members sitting on both boards at the same time for unlimited terms. This is more commonly called a “conflict of interest.”

This joint board of directors calls the shots for both the Shriners hospitals and the fraternity.
The Imperial Potentate is the leader of the fraternity, a Shriner who has risen up through the ranks, including the fraternities’ governing body, the “Imperial Divan,” to serve a one year term as he governs the 191 temples who, in turn, govern the 2,000 clubs under them.

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

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.”

Why would the Shriners be working so hard on putting out the good word and getting rid of the defamation lawsuit before the world’s Grand Masters meet in DC?

Are they are trying to wave their hands like Obi-Wan Kenobi and tell the Grand Masters “These are not the headlines that you’re looking for.”

Headlines?

Who said anything about headlines?

Before we go there, let’s look at the Shriners chain of command.

The ambitious Shriner can work his way up until he may be invited to join a secret Shrine sub-group called the Royal Order of Jesters, another non profit group with both charitable and fraternal components. The Jesters claim that their fraternal exempt organization purpose is to “spread of the gospel of merriment and mirth.” They also claim they deserve charitable status because they built a “museum” inside their new $1.2 million dollar head quarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Recent articles about the Royal Order of Jesters began on February 15, 2008, when I published “Jesters Exposed.”

It asked:

“Have the Jesters hustled the feds by convincing them that raising millions for partying is a legitimate exempt purpose because the IRS has had no problem classifying them as both a nonprofit fraternity and charity?”

This article described how the Jesters’ executive director, Alex Rogers, submitted an application for property exemption for the new headquarters and how it was initially denied by the Marion County Assessor because they were not convinced that the Jesters qualified as a charity, based on the museum claims, under Indiana law. The Jesters appealed to the state board of tax appeals and were granted the property tax exemption after convincing the state that they were an appendant body of Masonry.

My next article, “Jesters to Testify about Illegal Drugs, Illegal Child Prostitution,” ran on March 6, 2008.

This article described how 19 Jesters were called as witnesses in a federal libel/slander lawsuit to testify about “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” while on a ROJ sanctioned fishing trip to Brazil. This article describes the testimony of underage girls provided to Brazilian authorities who are currently investigating the possibility that the girls were involved in child sex tourism. One of the girls claimed she was 13 at the time and was left pregnant.

Three days later, on March 9, the Buffalo News ran:

“Ex-judge target in interstate sex case.”

Reporter Dan Herbeck wrote:

“A retired State Supreme Court justice resigned his post as a hearing officer as federal agents investigate his alleged role in taking a local massage parlor worker across state lines for purposes of prostitution. FBI and U.S. Border Patrol agents are investigating allegations that retired Judge Ronald H. Tills, his former law clerk and a retired police captain took the female massage parlor employee in a motor home to a gathering of members of a nationwide group called the Royal Order of Jesters…”

“Ex-officer admits facilitating prostitution” ran on March 21, 2008 and Herbeck wrote:

“A retired Lockport police captain pleaded guilty Thursday to transporting women over state lines on two occasions to work as prostitutes at gatherings of a fraternal club. John Trowbridge, 60, also admitted to a federal judge that he paid the women for sexual favors at a Wheatfield massage parlor. His felony guilty plea could result in as much as 18 months in prison for him as well as serious legal trouble for a former state judge and a former state law clerk who are under investigation.”

“Judge Tills traveled with woman he jailed on prostitution charge, Former state justice is a central figure in probe of activities of Buffalo Jesters,” ran on April 6, 2008 and Herbeck wrote:

“A woman who faced drug and prostitution charges in State Supreme Court Justice Ronald H. Tills’ courtroom later accompanied him on an out-of-state trip for a fraternal organization called the Jesters. Investigators are trying to determine whether the woman offered her services as a prostitute at the convention or whether she was just a guest of the judge, who has since retired… Tills, 73, is a central figure in a federal probe into the activities of the Buffalo chapter of the Jesters, a nationwide club that says its goal is to spread ‘mirth and merriment’.”

My latest article, “Judge Central Figure in FBI Probe, the S.O.B.I.B. and the Jesters' Half Million Dollar Weekend Parties,” ran on April 12, 2008.

It reported how Judge Tills has become the focus of an investigation by the FBI, the US Attorney’s office and a human trafficking task force and that he, along with Alex Rogers and Ralph Semb, chairman of the board of trustees for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, are members of a Jester’s sub-group, the SOBIB. The acronym supposedly stands for “Secret/Sacred Order of Brothers in Blood.” Tax returns show that the Jesters fail to report this sub-group on their tax returns and that in 2004, the International Royal Order of Jesters spent $545,806 on one of their weekend celebrations of “merriment and mirth,” otherwise known as the “Book of the Play.”

So, you might be asking, have the Shriners denounced any of the Jesters involved in these prostitution/child sex tourism/felony scandals?

No.

Have the Shriners tried to disassociate themselves from the Jesters?

No.

Have the Shriners made examples of those Jesters bringing disgrace upon the brotherhood by either trying them for “conduct unbecoming a Shriner” or throwing them out?

No.

Not a word.

It’s as if their silence condones it.

Or maybe they are hoping that if they keep quiet, this whole Jesters’ thing will just blow over.

After all, seven out of twelve who currently sit on the Shriners Hospitals for Children Board of Trustees are also members of the Royal Order of Jesters, including current potentate Bernard LeMieux, chairman Ralph Semb, Charles Claypool, Timothy E. Morris, Raoul L. Frevel, Nicholas Thomas and Gene Bracewell.

I mean, how could these guys blow the whistle on their own “boys gone wild” group while trying to tell everyone how good they are and what a great job they are doing? Instead of drawing a line in the sand, the joint boards are spinning the benefits of a major reorganization, selling themselves in a new “Between Sessions” newsletter and touting their “Biomedical Research Highlights.”

And what about the Shriners' defamation lawsuit?

The last thing they wanted is for Shriner whistleblower Vernon Hill and/or current IRS agent Paul Dolnier to show up at the Grand Masters conference and hand out copies of the defamation complaint filed against them in retaliation for asking questions like “Where does all the money go?” and “What is wrong with your tax returns?” as well as for implying that the Shriners were being investigated after Dolnier met with Pennsylvania officials for half a day as he explained irregularities he’d found through his professional analysis of their tax returns.

The last thing the Shriners wanted was for a jury to hear all about and for reporters to explain how they retaliate against those who want to report crimes instead of prosecuting those who commit the crimes.

The last thing the Shriners wanted was for the world to know how they demanded all communications between Vernon Hill, Paul Dolnier and me in an effort to circumvent federal and state reporter shield laws that have recognized a journalists’ privilege to protect “the identity of sources and unpublished information collected or prepared during newsgathering.”

All we know is that the case has been dismissed since the clerk of the Hillsborough County circuit court posted the settlement notice online on May 1, 2008, six days before the Grand Masters conference.

Back to the reorganization announcement.

It seems really out of whack.

Why would a non profit group hire 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 non profit consultants, the IRS or their parent group, the Masons, for guidance?

According to the announcement, the consultants recommended a 7% spending cap that was accepted when the joint boards unanimously approved a strategic action plan.

Why did 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 similiar 7% spending cap to support hospitals that were operating at only 1/3 capacity?

The treasurers also 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?

And why would the joint board spend only one day reviewing something as important as reorganization, though the consultants worked for over a year on it? What was it that needed reorganization? In other words, what was so broken that it needed fixing?

The announcement failed to mention any inclusionary activities such as focus groups or surveys of either the families served by the hospitals or the Shriner membership. Did the Imperial Divan consult the members for their input on the reorganization or did they just decide to keep the consultants secret and decide what was best for everyone without asking them?

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. 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.

And what about the 46 page Biomedcial Research Highlight publication?

The information presented in this document should be part of Part III of the exempt organization tax return, the 990.

The tax return states:

“All organizations must describe their exempt purpose achievements in a clear and concise manner. State the number of clients served, publications issued, etc. Discuss achievements that are not measureable.”

The Shriners use the same boiler plate answer year after year, while plugging in different numbers. They usually sum up their activities as:

"a.Treatment of pediatric burn victims admissions: 2,779, outpatient clinic visits: 213,277 at 2 burns hospitals.

b.Treatment of orthopedic patients admissions: 19,462 outpatient clinic visits: 213,257 at 16 orthopedic hospitals (including one dual use hospital)."

That’s it.

Why would the Shriners hide the details of research projects, publications, patents or millions given for research grants from the IRS, yet release such a glowing report two months before the Grand Masters meet?

Maybe it’s because if this information was disclosed on their tax returns, they’d also have to disclose 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?

So what does any of this have to do with the world’s Grand Masters?

I came across a paper written by India’s Grand Master that was presented at the 7th world conference of Masonic Grand Lodges held in Santiago, Chile. Arun Chintopanth spoke about “Freemasonry, Universalism and World Society at the Beginning of the XXI Century” one particular phrase he used caught my eye.

It’s the “breakdown of spiritual order.”

From where I sit, it appears that the Shriners have been hijacked by those who have violated their Masonic vows; hijacked by those wanting to run their non profit hospitals like a money making business; hijacked by those who abuse their positions of public trust for private gain; hijacked by those who may have suffered a personal “breakdown of spiritual order” by acting as if “Shrine law is above the law of the land” to the point that they get busted by the FBI in a prostitution sting and have been called as witnesses to testify about their alleged involvement in child sex tourism.

A statement issued by the Grand Lodges of Scotland, England and Ireland in 1938 states:

“Everyone who enters Freemasonry is, at the outset, strictly forbidden to countenance any act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society, he must pay due obedience to the law of any state in which he resides…..”

It's time for those Shriners AKA Jesters involved with these crimes to answer to someone.

Someone like the Grand Masters who are currently meeting in Washington DC.

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.

The Buffalo News's latest FBI/Jesters/Prostitution headline reads:

"Judge Tills traveled with woman he jailed on prostitution charge,
Former state justice is a central figure in probe of activities of Buffalo Jesters"

The article by Dan Herbeck begins:

"A woman who faced drug and prostitution charges in State Supreme Court Justice Ronald H. Tills’ courtroom later accompanied him on an out-of-state trip for a fraternal organization called the Jesters. Investigators are trying to determine whether the woman offered her services as a prostitute at the convention or whether she was just a guest of the judge, who has since retired."

It has also been discovered that 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."

When asked about the S.O.B.I.B., Alex Rogers, executive director of the Royal Order of Jesters, claimed he didn't know anything about it. After it was pointed out that his picture and contact information was in the S.O.B.I.B. directory, along with Ralph Semb, chairman of the board of trustees for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, and Ron Tills, the Jester/judge who got in trouble with the FBI in Buffalo for prostitution, Rogers said "Oh, Jesus Christ. I'm not going to talk with you anymore. I have no comment" and abruptly hung up.

Additionally, 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."

In addition to the S.O.B.I.B., other affiliated groups, including the Shriners and the Masons, are not listed.

The 990 also asks non profit groups:

In Part III, Statement of Program Service Accomplishments, "What is the organization's primary purpose?"

The ROJ reports their exempt purpose as:

"Promoting fellowship and fraternalism and extending assistance and good cheer to others."

Part III continues:

"All organizations must describe their exempt purpose achievements in a clear and concise manner. State the number of clients served, publications issued, etc. Discuss achievements that are not measurable."

The ROJ answered:

"Held annual events which were devoted to fraternalism and spreading the gospel of mirth and good cheer."

Part VIII, Relationship of Activities to the Accomplishment of Exempt Purposes asks:

"Explain how each activity for which income is reported in column (E) of Part VII contributed importantly to the accomplishment of the organization's exempt purposes (other than by providing funds for such purposes.)" Jesters' Activities include the annual banquet and their big weekend bash, the Book of the Play (BOP).

The ROJ answers in statement 9:

93a Annual Banquet, Annual events devoted to fraternalism and spreading the gospel of (sic)

93b Book of the Play, Mirth and good cheer.

Here is the Jesters' Oath from the Book of the Play:

"Candidates will be hoodwinked and will in unison repeat the following pledge as the DIRECTOR pronounces it to them;

“I ________________________— do hereby accept and acknowledge this contract and pledge with the Royal Jesters and members of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine:

“I promise never to select or propose any Noble whom I know to be weak or vacillating, or of unknown, or doubted, loyalty, or integrity, morality, or temper.

“Furthermore, I do by this obligation, elect myself an Evangelist of the Gospel of Mirth, accepting from my Fellow Jesters, a mission to lighten the burdens of all whom I know to be of the initiate, and for them will I always hang the latch string without the portals of my true heart.

“In witness whereof I do place my right hand upon my heart, and bind the convenient we have made amongst us, pledging my faith and honor as a man, that I will not reveal to any person, not a member in good standing of the Royal Jesters, any part, word or action of the ceremonies which have been enacted here, are now being enacted, or are to be enacted hereafter, during this or any other session of the or any other Court of Royal Jester.”

It has yet to be determined if such a secret oath is appropriate for a non profit group.

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.

One of their other events is an annual banquet. In 2003, the ROJ spent $38,688 to hold their annual banquet with income of $47,610. In 2004, they spent $48,846 on the banquet with income of $42,930. In 2005, they spent $38,523 with income of $44,369.

Additionally, Statement three for the same three years reported director's expense as $31,116, $24,778 and $31,865 respectively, though these expenses are not reported in Part II.

One of the most important things that a non profit must account for is Program Services, defined as:

"mainly those activities that the reporting organization was created to conduct and which, along with any activities commenced subsequently, form the basis of the organization's exemption from tax."

These same ROJ tax returns list $0 for Program Services.

The International Court of the Royal Order of Jesters reported gross receipts for the same years as $1,208,146, $1,394,551 and $1,310, 539 respectively.

The ROJ tax return for 2003 can be read here.

The return for 2004 can be read here.

The return for 2005 can be read here.

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.

The Royal Order of Jesters is a 501c10 non profit fraternity, with 23,500 members organized into 191 chapters.

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.

Investigators are trying to determine if Tills took the woman he imprisoned to Jesters parties as a guest or as a prostitute.

Editor's note: On Wednesday, March 26, the headline was corrected as the Jester who pleaded guilty was a retired police captain, not a retired police chief. Article follows.

“The Buffalo News (1) has reported that the FBI is investigating retired New York state Supreme Court justice Ron Tills, retired police captain John Trowbridge and 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, Tills resigned from his position as a hearing officer. Stebick resigned from his position as a part-time law clerk.

Trowbridge will plead guilty to an unspecified charge in federal court tomorrow, Thursday, March 20.

The Buffalo News has also reported that:

“Law enforcement officials said the woman was allegedly paid to perform sexual favors and that those involved could face criminal charges for transporting her over state lines for the purposes of prostitution…Members of the human trafficking task force in Buffalo are also investigating other alleged incidents involving prostitutes at Jesters’ events in other cities.”

The Royal Order of Jesters is made up of invited-only Shriners who, in turn, must be Master Masons. The ROJ is organized into two non profit corporations, each classified by the IRS as a 501c10 fraternity and a 501c3 charity. 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 charity was formed to "extend assistance and good cheer to others, and to provide a museum for items and articles of mirth, comedy and laughter." When Alex Rogers, executive director, applied to the Marion County Assessor for a property tax exemption and claimed that the new ROJ headquarters also housed a museum, officials denied the application because they decided that the ROJ failed to meet the state's charitable standards.

After county officials denied Rogers' application for property tax exemption based on claims of being a charity, he appealed the decision and convinced the Indiana Tax Appeals board that the ROJ was a fraternal appendant body of Masonry and the property tax exemption was granted.

The Buffalo News quotes Rogers as saying that "Since each Jester is already a Shriner, the group (Jesters) supports the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children in the United States, Canada and Mexico" and that "Most of our work is charitable in nature."

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?" This question is consistently marked N/A, though Rogers told the Buffalo News that the Jesters are related to the Shriners.

Additionally, the Jesters' tax returns call into question Rogers' claims that their "work is charitable in nature." The most current charitable and fraternal tax returns can be read here and here.

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

The Royal Order of Jesters revised constitution and bylaws explains the close relationship between the Jesters’ courts and Shrine temples and can be read here.

For example, seven out of twelve Shriners who currently sit on the Shriners Hospitals for Children Board of Trustees are also members of the Royal Order of Jesters. These include current potentate Bernard LeMieux, chairman Ralph Semb, Charles Claypool, Timothy E. Morris, Raoul L. Frevel, Nicholas Thomas and Gene Bracewell.

One of these members of the hospital Board of Governors is named on a subscription list for the Mirth Missives, which is a Jesters only e-mail.

The Mirth Missives disclaimer states :

“Mirth Missives is not for everyone. Particularly in business settings, some of the material may be problematic, possibly leading to sexual harassment or unlawful discrimination charges. To protect you and me, please do not receive Mirth Missives on a computer at your place of employment, or on a computer owned or installed at any fraternal or civic organization site. If you decide to print a copy of Mirth Missives, treat it as you would any other confidential mail and do not leave it lying around for prying eyes.”

The Mirth Missives author described it as containing “stories of interest to Masons, much of which is taken from Masonic publications such as The Scottish Rite Journal, The Northern Light and The York Rite Magazine.”

The author is claiming that the Mirth Missives is copyrighted but this webpage states:

“The material contained herein is solely the responsibility of the author. 'Mirth Missive,' 'Mirthster' and 'Jest Phor Phun' are not registered trademarks or service marks and are not copyrighted by the author.”

When I asked for a copy of the Mirth Missives, I told the author that I got the information from the above linked webpage and he acknowledged that he’d read it. If he truly had copyrights for the Mirth Missives and associated subscription list, which is not marked as copyrighted, he would have had this webpage corrected but, to date, has not.

I have found the Mirth Missives to be pornographic as well as so sexually, racially and religiously offensive, that I will not link to it. Additionally, in one version, the author is attempting to illegally distribute prescription drugs and I did not want some narcotics officer knocking on my door, asking why I linked to something that may be prosceutable?

This subscription list includes not only those under FBI investigation but also ten out of the 19 Jesters called to testify in a federal lawsuit about their first hand knowledge of illegal drugs and minor prostitution that allegedly took place during a Royal Order of Jesters fishing trip to Brazil.

Tills email address, which is easy to figure out as it’s the employee’s first initial then the next seven letters of their last name, is rtills@courts.state.ny.us, so he could have received and read the Mirth Missives in his judicial chambers on work time. This violates government, educational and corporate e-mail policies because as employees receive prohibited e-mails, their employers become liable for creating a hostile work environment, especially if the e-mails constitute sexual harassment or are offensive.

According to “Email, Adult Content, and Employment Law: Reducing Corporate Liability with Filtering and Policy Tools” By Michael R. Overly, Esq.:

“Material that is harassing, embarrassing, sexually explicit, profane, obscene, intimidating, defamatory, or otherwise unlawful or inappropriate, including any comments that would offend someone on the basis of race, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, or political beliefs, national origin, or disability, must not be sent by other form of electronic communication, viewed on or downloaded from the Internet or other on-line service, or displayed on or stored in our computer systems. Users encountering or receiving such material must immediately report the incident to their Supervisor. Violations of this Policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including possible termination, and potential civil and criminal liability.”

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

It states:

“The Code of Judicial Conduct is intended to establish standards for ethical conduct of judges…”

Applicable sections include:

•A JUDGE SHALL UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY. Public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary is maintained by the adherence of each judge to this responsibility. Conversely, violation of this Code diminishes public confidence in the judiciary and thereby does injury to the system of government under law.

•A JUDGE SHALL AVOID IMPROPRIETY AND THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY IN ALL OF THE JUDGE'S ACTIVITIES. A judge shall respect and comply with the law and shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. A judge shall not hold membership in any organization that practices invidious discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability or marital status.

•A JUDGE SHALL PERFORM THE DUTIES OF JUDICIAL OFFICE IMPARTIALLY AND DILIGENTLY. A judge must refrain from speech, gestures or other conduct that could reasonably be perceived as harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment.

•A JUDGE SHALL SO CONDUCT THE JUDGE'S EXTRA-JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES AS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF CONFLICT WITH JUDICIAL OBLIGATIONS. Expressions of bias or prejudice by a judge, even outside the judge’s judicial activities, may cast reasonable doubt on the judge’s capacity to act impartially as a judge. Expressions which may do so include jokes or other remarks demeaning individuals on the basis of their age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, marital status or socioeconomic status.

This means that Tills’ fairness and impartiality could be challenged and his decisions as a Supreme Court judge appealed if it is discovered that he received the Mirth Missives regularly. This could also cast doubt on his capacity to act impartially if he viewed pornography or read something considered as sexual harassment prior to hearing a case involving a woman. Or if he read something discriminatory prior to hearing a case involving a protected class. Or if he helped transport girls to a Jesters event prior to hearing a case involving prostitution.

Likewise, attorneys who are Jesters and are found guilty of violating bar association ethics and professional standards could also face disbarment.

Another Jesters publication, the Billiken Royal Board, is a calendar of Jesters functions and lists each event’s coordinator with their contact information.

It is not marked as copyrighted or confidential. Since the Jesters claim to be a 501c10 fraternal non profit or tax exempt organization, they tell the IRS in Part III, “Statement of Program Service Accomplishments “ that their primary exempt purpose is:

“promoting fellowship and fraternalism and extending assistance and good cheer to others.”

One would think that their calendar, or at least each specific Jester court's party, would be listed on their tax returns in Part III, "Statement of Program Service Accomplishments" that also asks for an explanation of:

“their exempt purpose achievements in a clear and concise manner. State the number of clients served, publications issued, etc. Discuss achievements that are not measurable. ”

The Jesters answer that they "held annual events which were devoted to fraternalism and spreading the gospel of mirth and good cheer" with no further explanation of these events.

Additionally, Part VIII, "Relationship of Activities to the Accomplishment of Exempt Purpose" asks the Jesters to:

“Explain how each activity for which income is reported in column (E) of Part VII contributed importantly to the accomplishments of the organization’s exempt purposes.”

None of their partys are listed.

Additionally, statement 9 of their tax returns explains that their events support their exempt purpose of “holding annual events which are devoted to fraternalism and spreading the gospel of mirth and good cheer” without listing specific events.

One would think that the IRS would want more details about the Jesters' events, as the 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."

Their calendar can be seen here, here, here and here.

The Billiken Royal Board lists the Royal Order of Jesters National Court officers as:

•Gene Best, Phoenix Court 17, Royal Director, Editor-in-Chief

•Gary N. Martin, Galveston Court 97, Royal Leading Man

•William Siders, Cincinnati Court 7, Royal Tragedian

•Robert H. Haynes, Los Angeles Court 84, Royal Impresario

•John T. Stafford, Sarasota Court 189, Royal Stage Manager

•S.E. “Scutter” Newton, Las Vegas Court 181, Royal Heavy Man

•Robert R. Armstrong, Rockford Court 69, Royal Property Man

•James M. Lake, P.R.D., Crescent Court 64, Royal Treasurer

•Ray W. Grannis, P.R.D., Lewiston Court 62, Royal Prelate

•Dale Klauss, P.D., Des Moines Court 46, Editor

•Alex Rogers, Indianapolis Court 15, Business Administrator, Assistant Editor, National Court Office

•Richard Koch, Jr., Des Moines Court 46, Publisher

Tills is also listed on the Billiken Bulletin Board as an event coordinator so Jesters can contact him at rtills@courts.state.ny.us about the upcoming Buffalo Court 22 trip to San Jose, Costa Rica, scheduled for April 10-14.

Also listed are events sponsored by the Buffalo court #22, which may have been investigated by the FBI for prostitution. Another Jesters' event involving the Long Beach court #161 names Phil Spellens as coordinator. He was also named as a witness in the federal libel/slander lawsuit who is expected to testify about his first hand knowledge of illegal drugs and minor prostitution alleged to have taken place during a ROJ fishing trip to Brazil.

Like Tills, there are those who receive their Mirth Missives at their government, educational and corporate 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.

So is any of this, besides the allegations of interstate prostitution and abuse of government resources, illegal?

According to the US Code, TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 71 > § 1462

Whoever brings into the United States, or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof, or knowingly uses any express company or other common carrier or interactive computer service (as defined in section 230(e)(2) [1] of the Communications Act of 1934), for carriage in interstate or foreign commerce—
(a) any obscene, lewd, lascivious, or filthy book, pamphlet, picture, motion-picture film, paper, letter, writing, print, or other matter of indecent character; or Whoever knowingly takes or receives, from such express company or other common carrier or interactive computer service (as defined in section 230(e)(2) [1] of the Communications Act of 1934) any matter or thing the carriage or importation of which is herein made unlawful— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for the first such offense and shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, for each such offense thereafter.

According to the US Code, TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 71 > § 1466:

(a) Whoever is engaged in the business of selling or transferring obscene matter, who knowingly receives or possesses with intent to distribute any obscene book, magazine, picture, paper, film, videotape, or phonograph or other audio recording, which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or by a fine under this title, or both.

Could the “interactive computer” distribution of the Mirth Missives be considered as “Engaging in the business of transferring obscene matter,” which may violate federal statutes as well as government, educational or corporate e-mail policies?

Could the “interactive computer” distribution of the Royal Billiken Board be considered as “Engaging in the Business of transferring obscene matter,” if it lists Jesters events that have been investigated by the FBI for interstate prostitution?

Are those Jesters receiving these e-mails at the above mentioned domain addresses putting their employers at risk by creating a hostile work environment?

And, finally, if any Jesters are caught deleting these emails, could they be charged with destruction of evidence and obstruction of justice after the investigators found these same emails that are permanently stored on the organization's server?

Only the investigators can know for sure.

(1) Herbeck, D., Bescker, A. (2008, March 9). “Former Judge Tills resigns amid FBI prostitution investigation.” The Buffalo News, pp. 1A.

Herbeck, D. (2008, March 15). “Retired Lockport police captain to plead guilty in ‘Jesters’ prostitution case.” The Buffalo News, pp 1A.

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