Milwaukee prostitution crime ring; man pleads no contest, fined
Charges in prostitution ring
Five additional men are charged in connection with a prostitution ring.
MILWAUKEE - One of the men charged in connection with a Milwaukee prostitution ring pleaded no contest to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges and was fined.
In court on April 30, 2025, Leroy Stewart, a funeral director in Oak Creek, pleaded no contest to three counts of disorderly conduction, and was fined a total of $900 ($300 per count).
He has one year to pay the fine.
Travis Schwantes; Leroy Stewart; Chris Riegg; William Green
Original reporting (November 2024)
The backstory:
Milwaukee prostitution crime ring; 5 more men accused
Five additional men are charged in connection with a prostitution ring. This comes after a former Milwaukee public defender was charged for representing someone he was paying for sex.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
Five additional men are charged in connection with a prostitution ring. This comes after a former Milwaukee public defender was charged for representing someone he was paying for sex.
The new charges are filed against the following:
- 50-year-old David Ornstein, a Milwaukee firefighter
- 76-year-old George Easton, a retired municipal judge
- 53-year-old Leroy Stewart, a funeral director in Oak Creek
- 55-year-old Christopher Reigg
- 59-year-old William Green
Prosecutors say a prostitution ring was operating for years out of an apartment building near 29th and Kilbourn. In 2022, a woman reported it to Milwaukee police. That same woman was later convicted for keeping a place of prostitution – her attorney said she was a victim of sex trafficking.
Prosecutors say Ornstein, a firefighter, exchanged texts with prostitutes who he met up with. Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said he is aware of the charges – and launched an internal investigation.
Investigators say Stewart runs a funeral home in Oak Creek. Text messages show he exchanged money for sex every two to three weeks.
Reigg told police he was being blackmailed. Prosecutors say he engaged in prostitution once a week from 2021 to 2023.
Green told police he spent time at the Kilbourn apartment to take a break from his wife. Police say his phone records show text messages consistent with prostitution.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
Easton, a retired Kenosha County judge, told investigators he paid $200 per hour to engage in prostitution.
All of this is part of the same investigation in which 54-year-old Travis Schwantes is charged in. The former criminal defense lawyer is facing several felonies – including misconduct in office by falsifying records. He is also accused of representing someone that he was paying money for sex.
The Source: FOX6 originally reported on the prostitution ring with information provided by the criminal complaint. Sentencing information is publicly available on the Wisconsin Court Access Website.