Editor’s Note: I apologize that my work is so dull, dry and boring. I have previously published warnings for readers to get a quad shot 20 oz mocha or an “Annihilator” from Dutch Brothers, since I’m boycotting Starbucks. In an effort to make things more interesting, I’ve borrowed from Dr. Seuss to explain what happened after I asked for the tax returns and 1023 application for exemption for Richard Schair’s nonprofit group, the Circle Fund. Please be warned that this article reports on the disturbing subjects of human trafficking and rape. I consider this an editorial as it provides opinion. And, again, the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Thank you,

Sandy

The Honorable William O’Kelley, Senior Judge for the U.S. District Court, Gainesville Division, agreed with Plaintiffs A, B, C and D to grant Richard Schair’s motion to suspend their civil case against the former fishing tour operator. Four Brazilian women have alleged in federal court that Schair trafficked them into prostitution, while minors, for his North American fishing clients. This is the first case enforcing the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and it appears that Judge O’Kelley wrote his decision with extreme great care, fully aware that he is setting precedent by determining the legal conditions under which the civil case can be reinstated because of Schair’s criminal grand jury investigation, writing:

“A criminal action includes both ‘investigation and prosecution.’ Once initiated, a criminal action remains pending until final adjudication in the trial court. The statute gives no guidance, however, about how to determine when a criminal action is initiated or when a criminal action that does not lead to a prosecution is terminated…The statute also does not specify when a criminal action that does not lead to a prosecution ends…Thus, the statute leaves open the possibility that an investigation could remain pending indefinitely which would effectively foreclose any civil suit arising out of the same occurrence as the subject for investigation.”

Judge O’Kelley then called for updates every 90 days to keep track of Schair’s “pending criminal investigation and/or prosecution.”

Evidence for Schair’s motion to stay included a federal criminal grand jury subpoena, issued on June 25, 2009, to his company for various documents for purposes of the grand jury investigation and a grand jury target letter issued to his ex-wife Amelia Karr, stating:

“according to information that ICE and FBI supplied to (the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida), (Ms. Schair) was involved with a company and/or an individual who may have been engaged in child sex tourism in Brazil.”

Schair also provided a Brazilian request for prosecution from the Public Ministry to a Federal Judge in the Amazon district that “denounces” or accuses him and five Brazilian nationals of operating a house of prostitution. (1)

This case began on June 14, 2011 when, for the first time ever, four Brazilian women filed a complaint in U.S. federal court based on the TVPA, alleging they “were victims of sex trafficking…while under the age of eighteen…They were caused to engage in commercial acts by Defendants” Richard Wayne Schair and Wet-A-Line Tours LLC. The case was coordinated by Equality Now, a humanitarian group dedicated to protecting and promoting women’s rights around the world, with pro bono legal services led by attorney John Harbin of the Atlanta law firm of King and Spalding.

According to the U.S. State Department:

“It is a crime for a United States citizen or permanent resident to travel abroad for the purpose of having sex with a minor and it is a crime for a United States citizen or permanent resident to actually have sex with a minor while abroad… It is a criminal activity to knowingly arrange, induce, procure or facilitate for profit the travel of a person when you know that the person is traveling for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors.”

Though the case was stayed, Schair filed an answer to the complaint on August 12, 2011, sounding like Bart Simpson’s “I wasn’t there, I didn’t do anything, You can’t prove it” defense. He never denied any of the charges, claiming that the alleged victims aren’t entitled to damages because they “stem entirely from the acts and omissions of other persons and parties over whom Defendants exercised no control.” It has yet to be determined if “other persons” included the 19 members of the Shriners secret sub-group, the Royal Order of Jesters, some pictured partying with underage Brazilian girls. It also has yet to be determined if these Jesters are the same customers being investigated by Brazilian authorities as national leaders call for tour operator reform in the Amazon.

Schair’s other customers include former Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry. In September, 2007, Henry and 23 friends, family and trial lawyers were clients of Wet-A-Line Tours in Brazil, two weeks after a Jester trip. According to this report, Governor Henry’s guests included his chief of staff, Gerald Adams, and an Oklahoma Highway Patrol security trooper, Patrick Mays. The report also lists two-time past president of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association Terry West and continues:

“Also listed are Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission member and former Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association President Jimmy D. Loftis, and fellow attorneys Blake Virgin, John R. Hargrave, John W. Norman, John B. Norman, 2006 Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association president Brad West, Bart West (Terry West's sons), former Judicial Nominating Commission member William E. Woodson, oilman Paul Hale, Robert D. Bell, Robert L. Bell and Mike Oliver. Hale, Oliver, Loftis, Virgin, Woodson and the Bells also took the 2003 trip based on a report in The Oklahoman at the time. Also listed is Richard R. Dunning, a member of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, appointed by Henry earlier this year.”

Now that the case is suspended, Schair claims the complaint should be dismissed because it violates his rights to:

• Procedural due process as provided by the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
• Substantive due process as provided by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
• Equal protection under the law and are otherwise unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment.
• Protection from “excessive fines” as provided under the Eighth Amendment.

Schair also claims that multiple awards against him and Wet-A-Line Tours constitute double jeopardy and are in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Based on all this, he further claims that the womens' claims for punitive damages should be dismissed, that the venue is improper and that the claims are barred by applicable statute of limitations.

This is Schair’s fourth attempt to prove his innocence, or maybe fifth if we count his current efforts to avoid indictment by the Grand Jury in Miami. His three previous failures include:

• Unsuccessfully suing a competitor who claimed Schair provided prostitutes for his clients fishing in the Amazon.
• Unsuccessfully suing Newsvine.com after I reported he’d been indicted by the Brazilian Federal Police.
• Failing to convince a Brazilian Federal Judge to dismiss the charges and indictment against him.

Judge O’Kelley is the same judge who presided over the Schair v Newsvine case, filed by attorney Aaron C. Clark. The Judge granted Schair’s Petition for Removal Libel, Assault, Slander on July 24, 2009.

The Judge more recently agreed that Plaintiffs A, B, C and D could maintain their anonymity after they shared concerns for their safety, charging that Schair and his company “by and through their agents and employees, engaged in international commerce and sex trafficking of children by recruiting customers in the United States to engage in ‘sex tourism’ in Brazil.” Judge O’Kelley issued his order on July 15, 2011, writing that:

“Plaintiffs are four Brazilian women who claim that defendants enticed or coerced them to engage in commercial sex with American customers on tour boats operated by defendants. Plaintiffs also allege that they were coerced into performing sexual acts with defendant Richard Wayne Schair. The sexual acts occurred while the tour boats were located in the Amazon basin. Each plaintiff was a minor at the time of these sex acts; one was allegedly twelve years old. Plaintiffs claim that the disclosure of their identities will ‘subject them to embarrassment, humiliation and ridicule,’ particularly ‘given the prevalence of social media and internet communication world-wide.’ Additionally, plaintiffs allege that since defendants are still actively engaged in sex trafficking in this area, disclosure of their identities could expose plaintiffs to danger…Given the factual allegations in this case, the court finds that at the present time, plaintiffs may file their complaint under pseudonyms and may maintain their anonymity through the Rule 16 scheduling conference that will be held to address the parties’ Joint Preliminary Report and Discovery Plan. The prime fact that compels this decision is that plaintiffs were minors at the time of the alleged sexual coercion. Sexual coercion of a minor is information of the utmost intimacy that warrants special protection.”

Trying to defend himself, Schair continues throwing people under the bus. He threw his ex-wife Amelia Karr under the bus by submitting her Grand Jury target letter as evidence for his motion to stay. In his answer to the human trafficking complaint, his attorney, L. David Wolfe, wrote:

“Defendants deny the allegations contained in paragraph 8 of the Plaintiffs’ Complaint. Furthermore, the vessel AMAZON SANTANA was owned and operated by Lauro Rocha and Jean Phillip Perol as owners of Santana Turismo Ecologico Fishing Safaris, LTDA. Defendant Richard Schair held a security interest in the vessel from mid-2005 to late 2007 as collateral for a loan made to Santana Turismo Ecologico Fishing Safaris, LTDA, for the build-out of the vessel that would become the AMAZON SANTANA. Defendants played no role in the day-to-day operations of the vessel or tours. Finally, the acts alleged by Plaintiffs fail to meet the requirement of ‘coercion’ as set forth in 18 U.S. C. 1591(e)(2)(A-C), and therefore Plaintiffs have not stated a claim upon which relief can be granted.”

Here, he throws his Brazilian business partner Lauro Rocha under the bus along with the head of the official French tourism office and the Chairman of the European Travel Commission, Jean Philip Perol.

Chairman Perol told Elite Travelling magazine:

“My favorite region is the Amazon, and every year I invite friends from around the world to take a five-day cruise up the river on my boat. People from France, the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Brazil all mix together on board, up to 18 people. What happens is people discover themselves, and they all have a little something in common. I’ve done this for three years now, and it’s on board the 100-foot boat that I share with another friend.”

Current Brazilian court records show that Schair’s co-defendant and business partner Lauro Rocha, was served on September 9, 2011.

An online search for “Wet-A-Line” with the Georgia Secretary of State reveals that the corporation was “terminated” last July and that Richard Schair is the CEO of a nonprofit group. The “Wet-A-Line Tours LLC” Certificate of Voluntary Termination has the Secretary of State terminating the company on May 9, 2011, with Schair backdating his signature to July 1, 2010.

According to the Secretary of State, the articles of dissolution must state that there are no actions pending against the corporation in any court or that adequate provision has been made for the satisfaction of any judgment, order or decree that may be ordered against the corporation in any pending action.

Judge O’Kelley granted Schair’s motion to stay because he provided evidence of two criminal actions pending against his corporation in an effort to stay the civil action also pending against his corporation.

The webpage “Dissolving a Corporation” for the Georgia Secretary of State states:

“If articles do not comply with requirements of the Georgia Business Corporation Code they will be returned to the filer for correction. If corrected and returned, the date of dissolution will be the date the articles were initially received.”

Do these ongoing cases prevent Schair from terminating his company? Does this termination create a date from which a statute of limitations can start tolling, counting on the grand jury to drag on until the Plaintiffs’ time runs out? Was his signature backdated so a hypothetical two year statute of limitations would end on July 1, 2012? And does not disclosing the criminal actions against Wet-A-Line Tours mean that the Certificate of Termination filed with the Secretary of State is fraudulent?  

The other filing was for “The Circle Fund,” a nonprofit group listing Richard Schair as CEO. Most philanthropists would proudly list their nonprofit groups on their professional websites and include their charitable associations in their online business listings. 

Schair does not.

The website states:

“The Circle Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation whose mission is to ‘Support the Families that Support Our Freedom’ by providing scholarships for dependents and spouses of service-members that have been killed or severely disabled as a result of their military service.  We believe it is our solemn duty as Americans to honor these great men and women of freedom by receiving their sacrifice with sincere hearts and bringing it ‘Full-Circle’ back to those who are left behind.”

The “About Us” section reads:

“The Circle Fund is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Foundation that was formed by a select group of business professionals and entrepreneurs who have combined their passion for ‘Supporting The Families that Support Our Freedom’ by proving scholarship grants to the families of our fallen heroes and wounded warriors. Our Leadership Team and Board of Directors consist of military veterans, real estate brokers, CPA's, attorneys, developers, non-profit leaders, and business owners. Due to the experience and expertise of our seasoned professionals, along with our ongoing fundraising efforts through corporate sponsors and individual partnerships, The Circle Fund is uniquely positioned to accept all types of Real Estate assets while providing a philanthropic avenue for receiving the maximum allowable tax benefits according to current Internal Revenue Service codes and regulations.”

Curious is the timing of the group’s formation, considering it’s placement in the following timeline:

April 29, 2009 the Brazilian Federal Police indicted Schair for rape, corruption of minors, operating a network of prostitution and Indigenous violations.

May 5, 2009 I report Schair’s indictment.

June 19, 2009 Schair asks a Brazilian Federal Judge to dismiss all charges against him by applying for habeas corpus.

June 23, 2009 Judge denies Schair’s application, citing his request has no merit.

June 25, 2009 U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami sends Schair and Wet-A-Line Tours a subpoena to testify before a Grand Jury on July 16, 2009.

June 26, 2009 Schair sues Newsvine.com in Hall County District Court, Georgia over my work.

July 6, 2009 Schair named CEO and Founding Board President of the Circle Fund.

July 28, 2009 Schair withdraws complaint after Newsvine.com changed venue to federal court.

August 3, 2009, Brazilian federal judge accepts case against Schair.

Applicant, Secretary/Treasurer and CFO Chris Brooks explained to the IRS in the “Finances” section of the 1023 application for exemption that:

“Startup expenses will be provided by substantial donations from the founding Board of Directors.”

In contrast, the website states:

“The Circle Fund relies solely on the support of others to maintain its ongoing mission of providing Educational Scholarships to the families of our fallen heroes.”

The Circle Fund’s business plan defines program qualifications as:

“Military service-Member must have served on active-duty in a theater of  combat operations and either been killed (KIA) or wounded in action (WIA) as a result of their military service during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from October 7, 2001  and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) from March 20, 2003.”

The marketing plan described the primary market as:

“Families of military service-members killed or wounded while on active duty…Many children and spouses of those killed in action are now facing financial hardships and are unable to meet their educational goals due to the permanent loss of income to the family. Also, many of these injured heroes are facing significant barriers to employment by being unable to continue their military service and unable to find comparable civilian employment in their field of expertise as a result of their disability.”

When a request for the tax returns and 1023 Application for Exemption was emailed to Schair’s agent/attorney, Aaron C. Clark, he responded “Seriously?”

Then I heard from the CFO Chris Brooks and two other attorneys, which in my ten years of asking for nonprofit returns, was the strangest response ever.

Their responses went something like this, thanks to Dr. Seuss.

That Schair I am.

That Schair I am.

I do not know

That Schair I am.

He’s caught up

In cases of

Court house spam.

I do not know that

Schair I am.

The CFO wrote:

“I’ve got a wife.

I’ve got two kids.

I know nothing of

His nonprofit biz.”

One lawyer made

It crystal clear

“I’ve fought the feds

Year after year

To clear his name

In the blogosphere.

I know nothing

Of his nonprofit biz.

I’m just a white collar

Criminal whiz.”

Another wrote:

“I’m just the agent,

Seriously?

I’m that guy

From your history.

Remember when we

Sued Newsvine

Over your work?

I’m just that

Nitwit legal jerk.”

Because he loves

Making legal spam.

He’s at arm’s length,

That Schair I am. 

The tax documents were lawfully provided within 30 days of my request by the nonprofit attorney who helped form the group. According to the group’s 1023 application for exemption, the Projected Statement of Revenues and Expenses anticipated income of $250,000 in 2009, increasing in 2010 to $500,000 and then $1 million in 2011.

On August 18, 2011 attorney Thomas R. Wrobel of NonprofitlegalCenter.com wrote :  

“In response to your request for disclosure of our form 990s please be aware the organization has had minimal activity in the past few years. No 990EZ was filed in 2009 because the organization was below the $25,000 threshold. For 2010, please see attached the receipt for the filing of the form 990N, because the 2010 revenue was below the 990EZ threshold of $50,000. Additionally, attached is the 1023 form you requested.”  

Why did Schair, secretary/treasurer Chris Brooks and agent/attorney Aaron C. Clark go to all the trouble and expense of writing up a business plan and applying to the IRS to create a nonprofit group that currently solicits the following donations? These include:

• CASH - One-Time Cash Gift, Monthly Sponsor, Estate Gift
• REAL-ESTATE - Residential Property, Multi-Family, Commercial Property, Raw Land, Industrial / Warehouse, Manufacturing Plants, Income Property
• OTHER NON-CASH - Stocks / Bonds, Tangible Personal Property, Automobiles, Coin / Stamp Collections

Why does this group appear to have not met their financial goals and performed as promised to the IRS? Has Schair provided any scholarships or grants to family members of dead service members and disabled veterans? Why was the Circle Fund invisible on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks?

Or was this nonprofit group created as a vehicle to potentially hide assets?

Next: “Zen and the Art of Throwing Others Under the Bus.”

(1)    Schair’s motion to stay and answer to the Plaintiffs’ complaint are contrary to the  findings of the Federal Prosecutor in the Amazon District of the Brazilian Public Ministry:

“The Facts – Richardo Wayne Schair and Jose Lauro Rocha Da Silva, as administrative partners of the Santana Turismo Ecologico company, Fishing Safaris LTDA, owner of the vessels Amazon Santana and Santana 1, in the years between 2005 and 2007, engaged in the illegal activities of sexual exploitation of minors, taking financial advantage of the prostitution of minors.

At the same time period, acting as managers of Richard Wayne Schair and Jose Lauro Rocha Da Silva, the nationals (Brazilian citizens) Juscelino De Souza Motta, Daniel Gerbaldo Lopes, Admilson Garcia Da Silva and Adilson Garcia Da Silva, who worked as interpreters for North-American tourists, executed the recruitment and facilitated the prostitution of minors, making it partially possible, through the economic exploitation of the prostitution of minors.

Thus, all of the denounced (accused) people were associated with this criminal group, which was established to economically explore the prostitution of underage Brazilians in the State of Amazonas, through actions that constitute the following crimes, according to the normative prescription of the time period when the facts occurred:

1)      Sexual exploitation of minors

2)      Rape

3)      Facilitation of Prostitution

4)      Ruffianism

5)      Domestic trafficking of people

6)      Sexual Exploitation of minors.

The United States citizen Richard Wayne Schair, owner of the tourism agency Wet-A-Line Tours, located in the state of Georgia in the U.S.A. promoted (or facilitated) touristic trips of North Americans to Brazil more precisely to the State of Amazonas. Through his tourism agency, he under-contracted (or hired) in that Country, touristic trips for cruising and fishing in the Amazon River, and offered his clients the possibility of sexual encounters, for (financial) renumeration, with Brazilian girls, many of whom were underage.

The letter to the judge continues that the defendants acted under the orders of Schair and Rocha to recruit the girls to work as prostitutes for North Americans during the trip. “Photographic proof and recordings of police missions reveal how Brazilian girls were hired to participate in parties with foreign tourists.” (Editor’s Note: These pictures include members of the Royal Order of Jesters.) It also explains that evidence obtained after searching the boats “attest to the existence of numerous images of Brazilian women in sexual poses within the vessels and in the company of foreign tourists.” It continues that one woman “admitted that on the 2^nd semester of 2006 while being 13 years old, that she was invited by Richard Wayne Schair along with her sister to cruise on the vessel, where she had carnal relations (sex) with Richard Wayne Schair deeming indubitable the practice of the crime of rape.” The request from Federal Public Ministry prosecutors asks the judge to process the accused ones to their final condemnation and requests that the witnesses and victims be summoned to trial.

All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost" must include the following credit line: From Copyright © 2011 by Sandy Frost. Used by permission. http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/

Editor’s Note and Adult Content Warning: This article includes references to prostitution, human trafficking and sex slavery. It’s also kind of long. I thought it best to provide as much background as possible because it’s kind of hard to wrap your head around the fact that this is about those in positions of power who believe their vows of secrecy and brotherhood will protect their nationwide network of prostitution, operated at tax payer expense.

Happy Holidays and thanks for being here,

Sandy Frost

Starbucks, WA

January 2, 2011

This is about the retired Erie County Deputy Sheriff who recently pleaded guilty to knowing about the felony of transporting prostitutes from the Buffalo International Airport to a national Royal Order of Jesters (ROJ) national convention in Ontario, Canada and hiding the crimes by not reporting them.

This is part of the case involving three Jesters who got caught in an FBI human trafficking sting out of Buffalo, NY. These include a retired police captain, a former New York State Supreme Court judge and his law clerk. All three pleaded guilty to violating the Mann Act after confessing to driving an illegal alien prostitute from Buffalo to a weekend Jester party in Ashland, Kentucky.

The ROJ is a secret sub-group of the Shriners, best known for operating a network of 22 hospitals that used to provide free care to burned and crippled children but now takes insurance. One must first be a Master Mason before joining groups like the Scottish Rite, the Knights Templar and the Shriners.

Today’s news is that Michael Lesinski, a retired Erie County Deputy Sheriff and member of the Royal Order of Jesters, admitted last November 19 that he knew that others were committing felonies, such as the transportation of prostitutes in interstate and foreign commerce, and concealed it by not reporting the crimes as soon as possible to law enforcement.

The technical term for this is “misprision of a felony.”

According to Lesinski’s plea agreement:

“The defendant did not report any of the above facts to any judge or civil or military authority under the United States. Also, when returning to the United States from Canada, the defendant then had knowledge of the purpose of the women’s presence at the Jesters organization meeting and lied to United States Customs officials as to the true purpose of his visit to Canada in a deliberate attempt to conceal the crime.”

Lesinski was released on personal recognizance without bail according to his conditions of release, filed on December 4, 2010 with the U.S. District Court of the Western District of New York. He was previously charged last June with conspiring with others to violate the Mann Act after driving a carload of six to seven prostitutes from the Buffalo International Airport to a hotel in Ontario, Canada for a ROJ national meeting.

The first federal criminal complaint states that:

“between April 18, 2005 to on or about April 24, 2005 that the defendant, MICHAEL LESINSKI, did knowingly, willfully and unlawfully combine, conspire and agree 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, United States Code, Section 2421; 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.”

Ronald Tills is the former New York State Supreme Court Judge who was caught w/his law clerk, Michael Stebick and retired police captain John Trowbridge in an FBI human trafficking sting last October, 2007.

The first Lesinski complaint described the statute violated as the Mann Act.

The next section describes “The Royal Order of Jesters,” as previously reported in “Feds Define Jesters.” This is significant because the Jesters are, for the first time, defined in their own little section of this criminal complaint as:

“The Royal Order of Jesters (ROJ) is a world wide 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 location 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 ‘book.’ Jesters from all over the country may attend the local ‘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 may make arrangements to transport prostitutes to ‘books.’”

Here is a copy of a script for the “Book of the Play.”

This recent Department of Justice press release includes the Jesters in this headline:

“Former Erie County Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty in Connection with Jester Prostitution Case.”

According to the first complaint, investigators began interviewing several Jesters in January and February of 2008 including Trowbridge, a retired captain with the Lockport, New York, Police Department. He described a nationwide network of prostitution as he admitted travelling to “books” in both the U.S. and Canada. He described occasions where Buffalo Court Jesters, including Tills and Stebick, made arrangements for Jester Girls to attend “books.”

Tills was in charge of getting the prostitutes to the Jesters’ national “book” across the border in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. According to his plea agreement, Tills admitted to coordinating the prostitutes’ travel with national Jester officers, in or about spring, 2006.

Trowbridge then stated that Tills asked Michael Lesinski, a deputy sheriff with the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, to take care of it. Trowbridge then disclosed that Lesinski rented a limousine to transport about a dozen prostitutes from Buffalo to Canada.

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 Girls.

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.

This all started when the FBI began surveillance from August, 2007 to November, 2007 of massage parlors suspected as being fronts for prostitution.

It turns out that Len Wah Chong pleaded guilty to running four brothels, partially staffed with illegal aliens who travelled through an international human trafficking network.

This application for the search warrant includes information from FBI wiretaps and includes Chong talking about the “judge” and “police captain.”

The only “judge” associated with this has been former Judge Tills. And the only “police captain” associated with this has been retired police captain John Trowbridge.

Here are descriptions of phone conversations found in the Chong complaint that mentioned the “judge” and the “police captain.” The information in the complaint was gathered by the FBI.

“in cooperation with the U.S. 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:

1. Keeping, maintaining, controlling, supporting or harboring an individual in any home or place.
2. The purposes of prostitution, conspired to keep and control female aliens for the purposes of prostitution, or any other immoral purpose.
3. Knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that said individual is an alien.
4. 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 U.S. 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” and other law enforcement officers.

19. 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.

20. 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. They use hot plates fueled by combustible gas charged canisters which are not designed to be used indoors. Some of these canisters have been recovered in the trash from Premises 1.

22. 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.

23. 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” to charge him for one hour even though he wanted a one and half hour service.

27. 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.

31. On October 16, 2007, CHONG placed a telephone call to Premises 1. CHONG told an unknown Asian female (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.

35. 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.

46. 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. CHONG advised Amy she should do a good job.

58. On August 20, 2007, CHONG placed a call to Premises 4. CHONG told Feng Xian LI other massage parlors offer half hour service for $30 and $60 for “full service.” CHONG complained that Feng Xian LI charges $65 for a “half set” massage. CHONG stated she doesn’t want to run an ad because safety is first. CHONG believes the prior arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement were a result of the advertisements each brothel placed in the Artvoice newspaper. CHONG told the girls that a lot of her customers are police officers and public officials.

65. On September 5, 2007, CHONG received a call from 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.

69. 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.

87. 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.

98. 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.

102. 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.

138. The investigation has continued to date and the pattern of activities described supra has continued. All brothels continue to appear operational. As this has been consistent throughout the 15 month investigation, your affiant submits that the offenses have continued and are continuing and therefore there is probable cause to believe the fruits, instrumentalities and evidence of said crimes will be located in the places to be searched as described in this affidavit.”

A copy of this document can be read here.

In spite of such investigations, the Jesters are still at it. Though their brothers are being convicted and are under investigation for sex trafficking, prostitution and child sex tourism, the first fifteen or so flyers in this online file show they’re still partying on, as if nothing is wrong.

Remember, the Jesters, like the Shriners, are organized into two nonprofit groups. The fraternal 501c10 tax exempt classification was granted to the Jesters by the IRS as to how the 22,000 Jesters are organized into “courts” that:

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

In other words, their tax exempt purpose is to party.

And according to federal charging documents and the IRS, with prostitutes at taxpayer expense.

This 2006 tax return shows that nearly $600,000 was spent on one of their weekend “books,” signed by executive director, Alex Rogers.

The IRS granted the Jesters a 501c3 “charitable” classification in 2004 after a handful of them somehow convinced the taxing agency that the new national headquarters building in Indianapolis, Indiana also housed a museum. The IRS’ application for tax exempt status is otherwise known as a form 1023 and is subject to public disclosure within 30 days of receiving a written request. Three years of written requests for the Jesters 1023 application for their 501c3 “charitable” classification remain unanswered as well as emails to the Texas attorney who seems to have put it all together, Ron Pruitt.

The Jester claim of housing a museum was rejected by the Marion County property assessor and affirmed by the Marion County Tax Assessment Board of Appeals on December 16, 2005. The initial application stated the Jesters “charitable” exempt purpose as:

“Spreading mirth and cheerfulness, promoting good fellowship, assistance and good cheer to others promoting fraternalism, and providing a museum for items and articles of mirth, comedy and laughter.”

The group’s business manager and director, Alex Rogers, appealed the “charitable” denial and convinced the Indiana Tax Appeals board that the Jesters building deserved a property tax exemption because they’re part of the Masonic fraternity. This denial letter includes notes stating that the Jesters support the Shriners hospitals, contrary to the Jesters’ stated exempt purpose, bylaws and articles of incorporation.

Back to the prostitution; charitable, fraternal, federally defined or otherwise.

Len Wah Chong was sentenced to six years in prison, five years parole, forfeited property worth $350,000, and was fined $350,000 as restitution for ten sex trafficking victims.

John Trowbridge was sentenced to 2 years probation and fined $10,000 for violating the Mann Act.

Michael Stebick admitted to driving the Jesters and the prostitute and was sentenced to two years probation, four months house arrest while wearing an ankle bracelet, fined $5,000 and forfeiture of his motor home.

Ronald Tills was sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison and fined $25,000. He is scheduled to be released from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Community Corrections Office in three weekjs on January 24, 2011.

Michael Lesinski is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2011 at 9:00 am by the same judge who sentenced the previous three Jesters, United States District Judge William M. Skretny.

All copies of material reprinted or duplicated from "by Sandy Frost" must include the following credit line: From http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com/ Copyright © 2011 by Sandy Frost. Used by permission.

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.

Retired police captain John Trowbridge got off light for his part in the Buffalo Royal Order of Jester prostitution ring.

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.

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.

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."