Jeffery London: from Youth Mentor to Accused Sexual Predator

By Erika Pesantes and Mike Clary
Orlando Sentinel
May 5, 2012

www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/fl-london-sex-abuse-scandal-20120505,0,6715780.story

Jeffery London listens to an alleged victim testify about how London molested him over a 10-year period starting when he was 8 years old. London was ordered held without bail Thursday.

He called his unlicensed foster home "London's Hotel," and there were always plenty of young boys checking in.

As a counselor at the Boys & Girls Club, a mentor at his Sistrunk Boulevard church and then a dean at a Lauderdale Lakes charter school, Jeffery London had access to dozens of poor and often-neglected kids who were too much for their financially strapped parents or other relatives to handle.

"Me and the boys. We became a family," London said in a 2004 interview.

But inside London's Hotel, say Broward prosecutors, at least some of the boys were subjected to a horrifying regime of sexual abuse occurring even as one of Broward County's most respected charities paid for his Lauderdale Lakes home, bankrolled trips to colleges and the Grand Canyon, and funded his position as Eagle Academy dean of students.

London, 48, was arrested in January and since then, charges against him have mounted. Nine boys who once lived with him have claimed they were raped or made to perform sex acts in exchange for money and privileges. He is being held without bond and is scheduled for an August 3rd hearing.

"This man turned these boys into his own personal sex slaves for over 10 years. It's a heart-breaking story," said prosecutor Sheila Alu.

But Lourdes Gonzalez, who represents London, said her client is being falsely accused in a plot to go after New Vision Childrens' Foundation, the charity that for years has funded London and also founded Eagle Academy.

"This is all about suing somebody for money," said Gonzalez. "These kids are all saying so much the same thing. It's like canned text."

New Vision is headed by Elizabeth "B.J." Huizenga Buntrock, one of Broward's wealthiest women. A founder of Hospice Care of Broward County and The Pantry of Broward among other charities, Buntrock was named 2010's outstanding philanthropist by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Buntrock, 77, did not reply to requests for comment on the advice of her attorneys.

The haunting abuse was detailed at an April 12 bond hearing before Broward Circuit Judge Michael Usan.

One of the young men said he was 8 years old when he moved in with London after his mother could no longer care for him and his sisters. "I was crying and everything and he said, it's okay, calm down, I'm going to take care of you."

But, he said, the sexual abuse soon began. "It was like a routine every time," he said, choking back tears. "He would grab my head first and then make me do it. I was scared and at the same time I was crying. I'm like, why am I doing this? I didn't have nothing, and I felt like my mom didn't love me, and my dad didn't care."

Scores of text messages from London's cell phone made available last week indicate that sexual activity was part of life in the home.

In one, London allegedly writes, "Feeling better! You need to get a bath, get naked, and text me when I can come make you feel good!"

In another message, one boy asks, "Can I play Call of Duty later?"

The reply: "Of course u can." And then asks for a specific sex act.

While acknowledging that the salacious text messages were sent via London's phone, Gonzalez said others who had access to the phone actually wrote them. "He was too trusting," she said.

According to police reports, London began abusing young boys as far back as 1995. The youngest known victim was 7.

Today, those male victims are 16 to 26 years old. Another in his early 30s has stepped forward, but no formal charges have been filed by the State Attorney's Office.

Broward Sheriff's Detective Julie Bower said there may be up to 40 victims, adding "This is, without a doubt, the largest case I've ever had."

Those who have come forward "haven't had any counseling. Some of them are married with kids," Bower said, "They were just fearful to tell their mates. Now it's like an open wound. They're hurting."

London met many of the boys through the Bible Church of God in Fort Lauderdale, where he was a youth mentor. They were kids from broken homes, or living with relatives who could not afford to care for them.

Hard times led desperate mothers to entrust London with their sons; one child lived with the youth mentor while his mother was in jail.

They were not in the foster care system, and not registered with any state agency.

In statements to police, victims said London would play pornographic videos and rape them on a nearly daily basis. The rewards for silence and compliance were video games, clothes, cellphones or cash, they said.

But just as enticing were a roof over their heads and a refrigerator full of food, Bower said.

One victim said he was too afraid to report London because he was an illegal immigrant and was afraid the former youth mentor would have him deported, Bower said.

Many of the boys believed they were the only victims until London reeled them into threesomes with other boys, she said.

Gonzalez said that for every man who now says he was abused by London, she can produce two who say that he was a loving, supportive father figure who saved their lives.

Reggie Clark, who wrote the courts in support of London, said he met him at the Boys & Girls Club in Fort Lauderdale when he was 13, after his mother left his abusive father.

Although Clark never lived with London, he spent weekends at the Lauderdale Lakes home and went on a trip to Penn State University that included sight-seeing in several states and a stop in Washington D.C.

It was the best trip he's ever had, he said.

"I thought I knew everything already; I was making the wrong choices. I had no father figure in my life. He was there at the right time," Clark, 30, said. "He showed me a different life."

The allegations have stunned London's family, including his parents Leroy and Clara, both in their 70s. Over the years, they said, they came to know dozens of the boys their son took in, and never saw any sign of inappropriate behavior.

In 1999, Leroy London said he joined his son on a 15-day cross country road trip with about 12 youngsters, a trip paid for by Buntrock. "He always wanted to share with people who were disadvantaged," said London of the seventh of his nine children.

Said Jeffery London's sister, Mary London, 58: "He is not the monster he is being portrayed as."

Since his arrest, Gonzalez said she and her client have been unable to contact Buntrock. "Jeffery feels for her," said Gonzalez. "He is concerned about her. He wants her to know that this is not true."

Contact: epesantes@tribune.com