2 more men sign on to court action that would freeze Bemer's assets
Bridgeport — Two more young men on Thursday signed on to a civil suit seeking to freeze up to $10 million in assets belonging to Bruce Bemer and another man who allegedly took part in a decadeslong sex trafficking ring.
If the motion filed April 5 goes through, the court would take control of the assets of Bemer, the 63-year-old owner of the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, and William Trefzger, 72, of Westport. Both men are facing charges of patronizing a trafficked person in Danbury Superior Court. Although Trefzger remains in custody on a $250,000 bond, Bemer posted a $500,000 bond and was released March 30.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Bemer, Trefzger and a 50-year-old Danbury resident named Robert King played critical roles in a prostitution ring that involved mentally disabled young men who were lured in with promises of friendship, money and drugs.
King is facing charges of promoting prostitution and tampering with a witness in relation to the case. He, too, remains in custody.
In his motion to add the two plaintiffs to the court action, New Haven trial lawyer Joel T. Faxon writes that adding them is “more efficient than bringing separate actions,” especially given the early stage of the proceedings. The initial action was filed on behalf of two clients.
A spokesperson for Faxon said it's likely more victims could be added to the suit in the future. A hearing for the action remains scheduled for April 24 in Bridgeport Superior Court.
“These sick individuals engaged in a continuous course of depraved and corrupt business activity for many years,” Faxon said in a news release. “Not only are they facing serious felony criminal charges, but I will make sure they are put out of business permanently."
A separate suit that New Britain attorney Kevin Ferry filed on behalf of an Enfield man also seeks to freeze $5 million worth of Bemer's assets. That suit, filed in Hartford Superior Court this week, alleges the Enfield man was 15 when he was victimized.
In the days following Bemer's arrest, many senior staff members at his semiprofessional racing track announced their resignation. On April 6, NASCAR said it was cutting ties with the Speedbowl. The track was set to open May 6, but it's no longer clear if that will happen.
