Retired Kenosha judge, Milwaukee firefighter, and State Public Defender among those charged in a prostitution ring in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Six people have been charged in a prostitution ring operating in Milwaukee's near west side, including a former high profile public defender with Milwaukee County.

Fifty-four-year-old Travis Schwantes is facing multiple felony charges of soliciting prostitution and falsifying legal documents to represent one of sex workers he was paying. Five others also charged in connection to this prostitution ring include a retired Kenosha judge, a firefighter with the Milwaukee Fire Department, a funeral director in Oak Creek, a lawyer, and a Department of Transportation worker.

It was at an apartment complex on 29th and Kilbourn law enforcement agencies claimed a prostitution ring was operating.

According to court documents, a sex worker identified Schwantes as her client. A sex worker told investigators Schwantes told her he would “help her in his capacity as an assistant state public defender to clear her warrants,” and logged 1.5 hours of work on her case.

Law enforcement officers say Schwantes used electronic payment apps including Venmo and CashApp to pay the sex workers. On his birthday, Schwantes paid a sex worker on Venmo $300. The payment is listed for “birthday cake.”

Investigators also found additional Venmo payments to a sex worker titled “justice” or “just us.” He’s not the only one.

Retired Kenosha judge George Easton told investigators he paid $200.00 an hour for sex, often when his wife was away.

Leroy Stewart, a funeral director in Oak Creek, told investigators he paid one sex worker $200 in cash for sex once every two to three weeks.

Department of Transportation worker Christopher Reigg told investigators he paid for sex several times over the course of two years. Reigg told investigators he was being blackmailed.

Investigators say David Ornstein, a Milwaukee firefighter, paid for sex at least six times from 2021-2023.

Investigators also say William Green, who was identified by a sex worker as a lawyer, engaged in prostitution numerous times.

Those five men face a misdemeanor charge. Schwantes is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 20th.