TV footage of Jester's court appearance

Here's a video news report about Royal Order of Jesters' members Ronald Tills, John Trowbridge and Michael Stibeck, from WIVB-TV, Channel 4 in Buffalo, NY.



Masons | Ronald Tills | John Trowbridge | Freemasonry | Michael Stebick | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Retired police captain sentenced in Jester-prostitute probe

One of the three Masons who pleaded guilty to transporting prostitutes across state lines to service brothers at Royal Order of Jesters' weekend "Books" has been sentenced to two years probation for his crimes, the Buffalo News reported today.

Former Lockport, NY police captain John Trowbridge said he was sorry.

"The more I thought about it, the more I didn't like it," Trowbridge told U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. "They [the illegal alien women] come here with great expectations.... These people are way too often overlooked. They're victims."

"When confronted with the ugliness of his actions, [Trowbridge] did the right thing," U.S. Attorney Robert Moscati said.

One of Trowbridge's partners in crime, former law clerk Michael Stebick, was sentenced in December, 2008 to four months of home confinement, 250 hours of community service, and a $5,000 fine. I hope he didn't spend those 250 hours standing at an intersection wearing a fez.

Former New York Supreme Court Justice Ronald H. Tills, the Moe to Stebick and Trowbridge's Larry and Curly (those rascally imps!) returned to court today for his slap on the wrist.

U.S District Judge William M. Skretny called the crime a "very serious matter," but went easy on the former police officer because he cooperated in the Jesters probe.

"It's not a matter to be taken lightly," Skretny said of the crimes. "It involved the dehumanization of victims of human trafficking.... What you did was a disgrace to you, an insult to your wife and a disgrace to your profession."

Human trafficking is the politically correct term for slavery. This "very serious matter" is apparently punishable by four months' of having to stay home and a bit of community service, or at most, occasionally reporting in to your probation officer who is probably already a friend.

Of passing interest: The March 2008 press release by the FBI announcing Trowbridge's guilty plea

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Third Jester pleads guilty to transporting hooker to Jester party

Following in the footsteps of his mirthful pals former state prosecutor Bro. Michael Stebick and former police captain Bro. John Trowbridge, former New York State Supreme Court judge Bro. Ronald Tills pleaded guilty last week to violations of the federal Mann Act, for transporting a prostitute across state lines to provide sexual services to fellow members of the Masons-only Royal Order of Jesters, the Department of Justice reported in a press release on September 4.

Bro. Tills further admitted to five additional instances of hiring and transporting prostitutes to Royal Order of Jesters parties in other states and to Ontario, Canada.

According to the DOJ press release, the "men's organization... held weekend meetings where it was their custom to make women available to the members for sexual activities in exchange for money."

Investigative reporter Sandy Frost has been covering this story for months. You can read her latest article and a recap of previous articles about this issue on her news site.

It is unknown at this time whether the Grand Lodge of New York or the local lodge(s) of these brothers have taken any steps toward bringing charges of unmasonic conduct against these or other brothers who may have been involved.

Bro. Tills, 73, who was one of the toughest sentencing judges ever in western New York during his ten years on the bench, will be sentenced on January 21, 2009. He could face up to 21 months in prison, the Buffalo News reported.

As the story of these three former public servants has unfolded, many Masonic commentators on this blog and elsewhere have continually insisted this was an "isolated" case involving "individual Masons who are making these poor decisions." The latest such comment attempting to whitewash Jester activities was posted here just hours ago.

That the former judge admitted to at least six instances of impropriety in several different locales pretty much discredits the idea that Jesters enjoying the services of prostitutes is an "isolated" event. To the contrary, there is every indication that the primary nature and reason for existence of Royal Order of Jesters events is that of a sexual festival.

Even dismissing for the moment the moral implications of married Masons f***ing hookers in front of each other, one must ask a simple question: Are these three men, all trained in law and/or law enforcement, so ignorant of the law that they'd violate a federal statute just to get laid? I mean, c'mon, there are whores everywhere! Why hire one in New York and take her to Kentucky, when I'm sure there were hookers available in Kentucky that weekend? Were the Kentucky brothers tired of the local girls, and in need of some fresh poontang? Or was there some sort of Jester tradition where out-of-state visitors (such as Bros. Stebick, Trowbridge and Tills) earn "points" or "bragging rights" for bringing with them a "gift" or "the best lay of the weekend"? The mind boggles....

The FBI investigation is continuing into the Jesters' involvement in human trafficking and prostitution. Bro. Tills has agreed to provide "proactive cooperation" in the ongoing probe, and the length and nature of his sentence may depend on how helpful he is in the ongoing investigation.

Image: Former state Supreme Court judge and Freemason/Jester Ronald H. Tills arriving at federal court in Buffalo, NY on Thursday, Sept. 4

Masons | Royal Order of Jesters | Ronald Tills | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of New York | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Second Jester pleads guilty in prostitution case

Micheal Stebick, former prosecutor for the Erie County, New York district attorney's office, former New York State Supreme Court law clerk, Freemason, Shriner and former Impressario of the Jesters Buffalo Court #18, has pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiring to violate the federal Mann Act after admitting to driving a prostitute from New York to Kentucky in a motor home so she could be "rented out" for sex to members of the Royal Order of Jesters at one of their weekend "meetings."

Stebick is the second Jester to enter into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors for Mann Act violations. Last March, retired police captain John Trowbridge pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the Mann Act by transporting prostitutes to Jester parties in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Ronald Tills, the former New York Supreme Court judge, is also under investigation for violations of the Mann Act, but has not made any pleas or agreements with federal officials.

As part of his plea agreement, Stebick forfeited his motorhome which was used to take the prostitute to a Jester party in Kentucky.

This matter goes deeper than just some horny old guys taking a hooker to a party, according to Sandy Frost's article at Newsvine. Government documents show that Stebick, Trowbridge and (so far allegedly) Tills hired the prostitute from Len Wah Chong, owner of massage and acupressure businesses, who in April pleaded guilty to Sex Trafficking of Persons by Force, Fraud and Coercion. Chong allegedly used the businesses as fronts for prostitution and had up to 11 illegal alien women kept as "sex slaves."

I can hear the Masonic apologists' even now.

"The Shriners and/or Jesters do great things for 'the children,' and Widow's Son is painting the entire group with a broad brush based on the actions of a few 'bad apples.'"

The three "bad apples" could have had, and probably did have, their way with the woman in the motor home without transporting her from New York to the Jester party in Kentucky. They took her to Kentucky to service the sexual appetites of many "bad apples" waiting there. I'm sure those Jesters were just as anxious and then happy to see the guys with the girl arrive at their party as elderly blue lodgers are to see their young Junior Warden show up with a box of donuts before a meeting.

Image: A 2000 Challenger 335 MHA motorhome, similar to the one forfeited per Michael Stebick's plea agreement.

Masons | Shriners | Michael Stebick | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of New York | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Witness ID's Jester sex-tourists as 'Masons'

In her recent article about the ongoing case involving underage sex-for-hire "fishing" trips by members of the Masonic-related Royal Order of Jesters, investigative reporter Sandy Frost included an excerpt from a deposition by a witness, Brazilian fishing guide Adilson Garcia da Silva.

In his 61-page deposition, Adilson described how certain American men he identified as being "Masons" returned year after year to Brazil for fishing expeditions that involved having sex with minor Brazilian girls. The females, some as young as 13, were hired, Adilson said, to provide "programs" that consisted of "oral sex, strip and dance contests."

In other Jesters news, The Buffalo News reported Saturday at least two Erie County, New York deputies have been caught up in the federal prostitution investigation which has already led former Niagara County police captain John Trowbridge to plead guilty to violation of the Mann Act. Also under investigation for "spreading the gospel of mirth and merriment" by spreading a prostitute's legs are former New York Supreme Court judge Ronald H. Tills and attorney and court clerk Michael Stebick.

The two unnamed deputies were implicated last week as being part of the Jesters group that transported prostitutes across state lines in violation of the Mann Act. Trowbridge was the owner of a recreational vehicle (RV) that was used to drive at least one prostitute to a Jesters function in another state.

The Royal Order of Jesters is a group made up of approximately 23,000 Shriners. The Shrine accepts into their membership only men who are Masons in good standing.

The Jesters try to take the "highest caliber Shriners we can get" who distinguish themselves in the community, Alex Rogers, business manager at the Jesters' Indianapolis headquarters, told reporters in March when this story first broke.

"We try to keep the cream of the crop," he said.

Another recent article by Sandy Frost ties the "whole thing" together, from her initial investigation into former Shriner Vernon Hill's allegations through the financial records and Shriner hospital records through the allegations of sexual impropriety by Jesters in Brazil and Buffalo.

Image: Royal Order of Jesters member and federal court witness Bro. Don Anderson showing off his peacock bass, taken sometime between Aug. 31 and Sept. 9, 2005, during a Brazilian fishing expedition. See the Wet-A-Line website for more photos.

Masons | Shriners | Royal Order of Jesters | Freemasonry | Prostitution | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

'Secrets' of Freemasonry?

When Bro. Hodapp told the world last week that the newly sworn-in governor of New York, David Paterson, was a Freemason, I was elated that finally there was an upright and honorable Mason in the public spotlight, one who would help restore Freemasonry's image, most recently tarnished by the Royal Order of Jesters prostitute story from upstate New York.

Alas, Bro. Paterson hadn't even moved his stuff into the governor's mansion before he announced that both he and his wife had had extramarital affairs. Less than a week later, the news is splashed with his "confessions" that he has used cocaine and marijuana.

As a libertarian, I don't care what he's done regarding sex or drugs. Probably half the adults in America have done similar things. In my opinion, his "transgressions" have no bearing on his ability to carry out the duties of his office. He's to be admired for 'fessing up, I suppose, not because he should have, but because sooner or later a reporter would have brought it up anyway.

But as a Freemason, I'm a bit saddened. A public figure like Gov. Paterson could have led to Freemasonry gaining some positive press, and led me to write an inspiring, upbeat, positively glowing, triumphant article about the return of quality Masonic leadership.

Instead, he's reinforced our image as partying sex addicts.


More on the Royal Jesters story out of Buffalo

Speaking of partying, sex-crazed Masons.... Former police chief, former Jester (recent news articles say he's been "kicked out" of the club) and former (I assume) Masonic brother John Trowbridge pleaded guilty last Thursday to transporting a woman from New York to Kentucky to provide prostitution services at a Royal Order of Jesters get-together in 2005. He also admitted to taking a hooker to a Jester event in Pennsylvania in 2006.

Also charged in the case were former New York Supreme Court Justice Ron Tills and his law clerk, Michael Stebick. Presumably both men have not yet made a plea and will stand trial for violation of the federal Mann Act.


"Mirth Missives"

Investigative reporter Sandy Frost has apparently angered certain Jesters with her recent articles. A February 2008 issue of a privately-owned, "unofficial" Jester-oriented newsletter titled Mirth Missives carried this comment atop its front page:

A self styled "Investigative reporter, author and researcher into that which would rather remain hidden" named Sandy Frost, who lives in the Seattle area, has acquired the name and phone numbers of many Jesters. She is calling them to get an interview to bash the ROJ. You know what to do is [sic] she calls you. You can read her poison at:

http://sandyfrost.newsvine.com

Please communicate this information to your fellow Jesters at your next Court or Biliken [sic] Club gathering.

In a recent article, Ms. Frost described the contents of the newsletter as being so "pornographic as well as so sexually, racially and religiously offensive, that I will not link to it."

I don't agree with her that the contents are truly pornographic, but they are crude, juvenile, sexist and racist. The quality of the "humor" and the general layout of the e-zine remind me of something a 13-year old would create and enjoy.

Mirth Missives is peppered with cartoons that appear to be from a Playboy-type magazine. One comic panel shows a man, pants around his ankles, bending over a doctor's examining table. The caption reads, "Don't be embarrassed. You think your [sic] the first guy whose wife shoved the remote up his ass?"

There are several jokes about Viagra, including a "Fricke Door Sign," which reads: "I'm on Prozac, Rogaine and Viagra. I'm happy, hairy and horny."

One photo, intended to be "mirthful," I assume, shows an older couple sitting on a park bench, with the man reaching inside the woman's blouse. A caption added by TazMack, the publisher, says, "Fricke Spotted in the Park Last Week." Apparently, Fricke is a dentist and fellow Jester that TazMack often kids in the newsletter.

Another photo shows a man holding a sign that says, "Sorry. I'm blind. Can I feel your tits?"

If you read the comments section on Ms. Frost's article, you'll note that Mirth Missives publisher TazMack has been raising hell over the "leak" of his newsletter (he's the one who sent her a sample issue) and the list of several hundred subscribers, claiming "copyright violation." Amusingly (the only thing amusing about the newsletter), there's very little in the newsletter that is original. Other than the pokes at Fricke, the opening bit that warns about Ms. Frost's "poison," a disclaimer and one other small section that I will refrain from discussing at this time (read Sandy's article and TazMack's comment — yeah, the part about controlled drugs), all the material has been copied from other sources.

In respect of TazMack's claim of "copyright," I'm refraining from publishing the entire contents of the newsletter or linking to it. The use of snippets from the newsletter that I'm publishing here falls under the Fair Use Clause. The fact that the newsletter itself contains explicit instructions on how to forward it pretty much demolishes any claim that the newsletter is a "protected communication."

Do Not Forward This Entire E-Mail

If you decide to forward a joke or jokes via e-mail, please use your "copy and paste" feature to send just the joke, removing the headers, footers, addresses and unsuitable material.

Here's how to do it:

Point to the first letter of the text you want to copy and left click and hold down and drag the pointer to the end of the text and then let up on the left button. Now hover the pointer over the highlighted text and right click and choose copy from the pull down menu. Now open a new fresh write mail form and point to the main body of the new mail and right click and then touch on paste. Wham the copied text is pasted into your mail. Now select the subject and who you want to send it to and touch on send.

OR

Go to the joke or information you want to send. You can press control+shift+end to select to the end of the document or control+shift+down arrow to the end of the joke. Then, press control+c for copy. Then create a new message and then press control+v to paste the information.

Here's the e-zine's disclaimer:

"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."

In closing, let me leave you with a joke or two from Mirth Missives. [Warning: Contains the F-word.]

A parrot developed the bad habit of screwing the farmer's hens, making them quit laying.

The farmer tells the parrot if he does it again he will pull out every feather in the parrot's head.

The next day, the farmer again catches the parrot humping a hen, and snatches the parrot bald.

The following day, the farmer's wife hosts a formal dinner. She thinks it would be unique if the parrot greeted the guests and told them where to go. She had spent nearly a year training the parrot for this.

As the guests began entering, the parrot dutifully announced, "Ladies to the right! Gentlemen to the left!"

Spotting two bald guys entering, the parrot says, "And you two chicken-fuckers get up here with me."

Mirth really is king, huh?

Oh, sorry. Was that not funny? What about this one?

Abe went to a brothel and told the madam, "I want a girl with big boobs and a small box."

"Why?" she asked him.

"Never mind!" replied Abe. "I`m paying for it. I want a girl with big tits and a small cooze!"

"No problem," said the madam. "Go straight up the stairs to room 23."

A few minutes later there was a knock on the door, and a young woman walked in.

"Okay," she said, "are you the guy with the big mouth and the small pecker?"

I guess if your humor-meter is still stuck in the sixth grade and you spend your time at church trying to look up women's dresses, you might find Mirth Missives your "cup of tea," suitable for any private "men's organization."

But these men are Freemasons. These are the "pillars of the community." Many of these men are present or past "illustrious potentates" and 33rd degree poobahs. The publisher of Mirth Missives wears a 33rd degree white hat.

These are men I once told my son to seek out if he was ever in trouble. These are men I once assumed I could trust to behave themselves around my wife.

"Oh, W.S. It's just a small minority, a few horny old men. They're harmless. It's all in good, clean fun. Masons are all good, decent family men dedicated to the good of the community and 'making good men better.' It's just an isolated event."

I've seen the distribution list of Mirth Missives. I was very surprised at some of the names on the list. I immediately recognized at least one as a Past Grand Master, and I'm sure there are others of such "high rank." All the names on the list, I would assume, are now, or once were, active officers in their blue lodges. These are the "leaders" who instructed new candidates in rituals and lectures regarding "morality" and "keeping passions within due bounds."

Personally — again, as a libertarian — I don't care what these guys are doing. Yuck it up, boys. Take your Viagra and **** yourselves silly.

I just find it disturbing that you're doing it en masse under the banner of a group associated with Freemasonry.

We're supposed to be better than this.

Masons | Royal Order of Jesters | Mirth Missives | Freemasonry | Shriners | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Another 'isolated incident'? Retired judge, fellow Jesters under investigation for hiring prostitutes in New York

Updated 3/10/08 to include Congressional Record entry honoring Judge Ron Tills.

Updated 3/10/08 to include Congressman Reynolds' Masonic affiliations

On Thursday, The Burning Taper published an article about, and linked to investigative reporter Sandy Frost's detailed account about, 19 members of the Mason-related Royal Order of Jesters members who have been subpoenaed as witnesses in a federal trial involving underage prostitutes while on a fishing trip to Brazil in 2005.

A comment left by a reader here said, "This has to be an isolated incident."

Sadly, it doesn't appear this kind of activity among the Royal Order of Jesters is an isolated incident.

Synchronistically, on the same day we ran that article two other Jesters, one a retired state judge now serving as a hearings officer, the other his former law clerk, resigned amidst allegations that they, along with a former police captain, took a female massage parlor employee in a motor home to a gathering of members of the Royal Order of Jesters. Transporting a woman across state lines for purposes of prostitution is a violation of the federal Mann Act.

The story ran today on the front page of the Sunday edition of the Buffalo News.

The investigation is part of a probe into Buffalo-area massage parlors linked to prostitution.

Both retired Judge Ronald H. Tills and law clerk Michael Stebick tendered their resignations on Thursday.

Stebick's attorney Andrew C. LoTempio told the Buffalo News, "[Stebick] resigned from his job to save his family and the court system from embarrassment."

Tills had also served as a state assemblyman.

Stebick is a former criminal prosecutor with the Erie County district attorney’s office.

Six witnesses familiar with the investigation said Stebick, the owner of the motor home used on the trip, Tills and retired Lockport, NY Police Capt. John Trowbridge went on the road trip along with as many as nine other Jesters and the woman from the massage parlor. Investigators did not say to where they traveled, other than it was outside New York, or when it occurred, other than it was over a year ago.

The FBI and U.S. Border Patrol have been investigating the local Jesters Buffalo Court No. 22, of which the three are members.

As if to further drive home the fact that this isn't an isolated incident, the Buffalo Times, speaking of a Feb. 1990 federal case in Milwaukee, Wisconsin said:

According to the [Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal] newspaper’s account, a woman admitted to a federal judge that she ran an interstate prostitution business and was hired to provide prostitutes for Jesters conventions in New Orleans, Houston, Chicago and other locations, including some in other countries.

The newspaper reported that the woman, speaking at her sentencing, told the judge that "well-to-do businessmen, mayors and aldermen" were among the Jesters' members, and that uniformed police officers sometimes provided security at the events.

Alex Rogers, business manager at the Jesters' Indianapolis headquarters, said, "Our purpose is to spread the gospel of mirth and merriment.... We certainly don't stand for any of that stuff.... Most of our work is charitable in nature, and that's why I just can't believe the nature of this investigation."

The Jesters try to take the "highest caliber Shriners we can get" who distinguish themselves in the community, Rogers said.

"We try to keep the cream of the crop," he said.

When reporters Dan Herbeck and Aaron Besecker of the Buffalo News phoned local Jesters Court No. 22 secretary James Kirst, he hung up the phone when asked about the investigation.

Updated: Monday, March 10, 2008 — The following statement by Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-NY) was read in the House of Representatives and published in the Congressional Record on Dec. 8, 2005:

TRIBUTE TO JUDGE RONALD H. TILLS

HON. THOMAS M. REYNOLDS OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, December 8, 2005

Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor a respected jurist, a dedicated public servant, a valued mentor and a trusted friend upon the occasion of his retirement from the New York State Court of Claims.

A native of Hamburg, New York, and a veteran of the United States Army Reserves, Judge Ronald H. Tills began a career in public service that spanned five decades when he joined the Zoning Board of Appeals in 1960. An Assistant Town Attorney and Town Justice, Ron Tills was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1968, where he served his community and his State with distinction, becoming Chairman of the Assembly's Select Committee for Revision of Corporation Law.

It was in his capacity as Member of the State Assembly that Judge Ron Tills took a chance on a young college student with little political experience to help run his re-election campaign in 1972. Joining his Assembly staff following that election, my own career in government and public service was launched, and I will be forever grateful for Ron's guidance, counsel and friendship.

Judge Tills' service to his community culminated when he was nominated by Governor George E. Pataki, and confirmed by the New York State Senate, to the New York State Court of Claims in July of 1995, where he has served as a Court of Claim Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice for the past decade.

Mr. Speaker, Ron Tills involvement in a variety of civic and community organizations, and the awards and recognitions he has received over the years are too numerous to list. Whether it was the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Hamburg Volunteer Fire Company, or so many others, Ron Tills involved himself as he did in each endeavor throughout his life and career, with passion, leadership, and commitment.

One of his great loves is the largest and oldest fraternal organization in the world. As a Mason, Ron Tills has held numerous responsibilities within the Masons and the organizations within it, including Proctor of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Potentate of the Ismalia Shrine Temple, Director and President of the Shrine Oasis and Director of the Buffalo Court 22 of Jesters.

In addition to the Masons, gardening and travel, Ron Tills' greatest love of all is the former Elizabeth Clarkson. Ron and Betty were married on May 6, 1960, and are parents of Thomas and Suzanne and grandparents of Dale Jr. and Diane Goodridge, and Timothy and Abigail Tills.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of and in gratitude for his service, leadership and patriotism, I ask that this Honorable Body join me in honoring Judge Ronald H. Tills upon the occasion of his retirement, and wish him great health and happiness in the days and years ahead.

Congressman Tom Reynolds is a member of Springville Lodge in New York and Ismailia Temple (of Buffalo, NY) of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the Shriners), according to Congressional SourceWatch and Project VoteSmart. Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds should not be confused with M.W. Thomas E. Reynolds, Past Grand Master of Ohio.

Image 1: Retired New York State Supreme Justice Ronald H. Tills

Image 2: T-shirt design available at the Jester Phun Store

Ronald Tills | Michael Stebick | John Trowbridge |Masons | Royal Order of Jesters | Prostitution | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com