Connecticut track loses NASCAR sanction after owner charged in human trafficking ring
NASCAR has pulled the sanction from New London-Waterford Speedbowl after the owner of the track was allegedly involved in a human trafficking ring.
According to the Hartford Courant, Bruce Bemer told investigators that he’s been paying for sex with young men for nearly 25 years. The men, according to police, were part of a human trafficking ring that exploited young males with mental health issues.
“This ring is alleged to have exploited young males with mental health issues by delivering them to wealthy ‘clients’ throughout Connecticut for the purpose of [having] sex for money,” Danbury police said in a press release Thursday.
Additional arrests are expected, police said.
Authorities identified about 15 victims, most of whom suffer from severe psychological disorders and “significant mental health needs,” Danbury police said. Investigators learned that one of the victims met [Robert] King when the young man was searching dumpsters for returnable bottles.
NASCAR said Thursday morning it had immediately terminated the sanctions the track had for the NASCAR All-American Series and the Whelen Modified Tour. The track has hosted an annual modified race since 2012 after a five-year hiatus from the schedule. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competed at the track from 2000-2006.
According to police, the ring operated out of Danbury. King, the man alleged to have run the ring, allegedly “sought out young men with varying degrees of psychological disabilities.”
Police said Bemer told them that King brought him between eight and 10 young men for sex over the near-25 year period and that he paid $200-250 for each encounter.
Although he often referred to them as “boys” or “kids,” Bemer said they were adults when he had sex with them. However, he said he stopped having sex with some of them because they grew too old, according to the affidavit.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
