Retired N.Y. Judge Pleads in Federal Prostitution Case

Criminal Justice

Retired N.Y. Judge Pleads in Federal Prostitution Case

Posted Sep 5, 2008, 02:52 pm CST
By Martha Neil

A New York trial court judge who had a reputation for handing out tough sentences is now potentially facing one himself.

Ronald Tills, 73, admitted in court yesterday that he had recruited prostitutes for a national men's fraternal club of which he is a member, the Royal Order of Jesters, reports the Buffalo News. He was a member of the state supreme court bench, which is the trial court in New York, for a decade before retiring in 2005.

His felony plea before U.S. District Judge William Skretny admits a violation of the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution purposes. It could result in a prison term of as much as 21 months, under sentencing guidelines, the newspaper writes. However, no specific sentence apparently was discussed in court yesterday.

His lawyer, Terrence Connors, says Tills is ashamed and regretful. “He admitted in court that he committed a crime, his conduct was wrong and his judgment was horrible,” Connors said yesterday. “Privately, he has told me he has no one to blame but himself. He understands there will be serious consequences, and he’s prepared to deal with them.”

The judge said yesterday that Tills has agreed to cooperate in an ongoing federal investigation of the club's prostitution activities throughout the country. His former law clerk, Michael Stebick, and a Lockport police captain previously pleaded in the case, and also have agreed to cooperate.

A national representative of the club tells the newspaper that it does not authorize or condone prostitution at its events.

"Prosecutors said they learned about the Jesters’ involvement while investigating prostitution and human trafficking crimes associated with massage parlors in Niagara and Erie counties," the article states.

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