MILWAUKEE— On August 26, 2025, former Milwaukee County public defender Travis Schawntes was sentenced to 45 days in jail for his involvement in a prostitution ring operating out of a near west side apartment building. Schwantes, 54, had previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge of making a false representation to qualify for assignment of counsel and two misdemeanor counts of prostitution.
The case, which began in April 2022, involved Schwantes paying at least three women for sex and falsifying records to represent one of them in court. Investigators uncovered evidence including sexually explicit photos and a trail of Venmo and PayPal transactions with descriptions like “joy,” “just us,” and “justice,” ranging from $20 to $1,500. Schwantes was aware that one of the women had open warrants and had previously paid her for commercial sex, yet recorded her income as zero on the form to qualify for public defender.
As part of a plea agreement, other charges, including two felony counts of misconduct in office, were dismissed. The sentencing was conducted by Judge Jeffery Kremers, a retired judge appointed to hear the case. In addition to jail time, prosecutors recommended conditional jail time, probation, and a fine. Schwantes was given a $4,000 fine and 100 hours of community service, but could be reduced to $2,000 if 250 hours of community service is complete.
The investigation was led by the Milwaukee Police Department’s Human Trafficking Task Force and the District Attorney’s Office. Schwantes resigned from the State Public Defender’s Office on September 27, 2024.
Schwantes is not the only one involved in this case. He is one of six men who participated on these acts. In addition to Schwantes, five other men were charged in connection with the prostitutions ring.
- LeRoy E. Stewart – Funeral home director; fined $300 for each of three misdemeanor disorderly conduct counts.
- George H. Easton- Retired municipal judge; fined $500 for each of two misdemeanor disorderly conduct counts.
- William H. Green- Attorney; sentenced to 60 days in the Community Reitengration Center (sentence stayed) and placed on nine months of probation.
- David Ornstein- Former firefighter; charged with misdemeanor count of pandering.
- Christopher Riegg- Former attorney; charged with misdemeanor count of pandering.
