One of the hallmarks of Scientology harassment is the “noisy” nature of it. Usually, when you’re the target of a Scientology “Fair Game” campaign (and your proprietor can confirm this from personal experience) you know very well that it’s happening. Scientology wants you to know that your friends and family are being called and visited by Scientology foot soldiers (such as a person we previously profiled in this series).
But in recent years we’ve also learned about a different set of operatives that Scientology uses and is willing to spend exorbitant amounts on. These more ghostly individuals are tasked with surveillance that can go to extreme lengths to keep someone under the watchful eye of Scientology leader David Miscavige, while keeping the target unaware that it’s going on.
We learned a stunning amount of detail about this when two of the ghost PIs made the extraordinary move of coming forward in 2012.
Paul Marrick and Greg Arnold were former police officers who had spent 24 years silently stalking a figure that terrified Miscavige, his former Sea Org partner in crime, Pat Broeker. After the death of L. Ron Hubbard in 1986, much of the Scientology membership believed that Broeker and his wife Annie would be successors to the church founder. But Miscavige muscled them out of the way and Broeker went into exile. A paranoid Miscavige wanted to know every move Broeker made, 24 hours a day, so for nearly the next quarter century he paid Marrick and Arnold to tail Broeker.
The two former spies told us that they had gone as far as to rent a house next door to Broeker’s and took advantage of early wireless telephone vulnerabilities to listen in on his phone calls. They had used intermediaries to befriend Broeker for even more information. And they had followed him to Europe and around the US.
And their number one rule, they told us, was never to let Broeker know that he was being watched.
Marrick and Arnold had been told they had jobs for life as long as they didn’t break this rule. But after Marty Rathbun alluded to their operation (but not by name) in the epic 2009 Tampa Bay Times series “The Truth Rundown,” Miscavige cancelled the program and cut Marrick and Arnold loose. So they sued for breach of contract and went public for one really amazing day that we got to spend with them in Texas. (And please read our story about it if you haven’t.) The Tampa Bay Times guys got them the next afternoon. And when Miscavige got wind that the duo were talking to the press, he quickly settled the lawsuit to make them clam up.
Since then we learned about another, similar operation, when Ron Miscavige, Dave’s dad, revealed that he’d been the target of a stalking operation. In this case it was a father-son pair, Dwayne and Daniel Powell (see photo at top) who were following Ron after his 2012 escape from the Sea Org. This time, the two private eyes talked openly about their operation, but in this case it was because they were facing weapons charges for what police found in their car, and they sang like canaries.
Like Merrick and Arnold, the Powells were charged with following their target and making sure he didn’t know it. They put tracking devices on his car, and also used intermediaries to befriend him. But the most important thing they were doing was feeding information daily for David Miscavige’s consumption, and for the price of $10,000 a week in cash.
At one point, when they were watching Ron across a Wal-Mart parking lot, they saw him clutch for his chest. Ron, then 74, was actually reaching for a cell phone that was falling out of his shirt pocket. But from across the parking lot the Powells thought they were seeing an older man having a heart attack. They told police that they called their Florida handler, who immediately put them in touch with Miscavige. Dwyane Powell said that the Scientology leader told him to do nothing. “If he dies, he dies,” Miscavige supposedly said.
It was more important for the PIs to maintain their cover, and to make sure that Ron never knew he was being followed, than to intervene and possibly save his life.
Are there Scientology ghost PIs working today, silently following people that David Miscavige wants watched around the clock? Almost certainly. We can think of a dozen people Miscavige is terrified of that he would want watched.
And so these former cops and private eyes, whoever they are today, help Dave maintain his Fair Game empire.
The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology
3: The judges
5: The dirty tricks private eyes
6: The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
7: The litigators
8: The ghost private eyes
9: The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office
10: Political shills
11: Gary Soter
12: The city of Clearwater, Florida
13: Google and other tech titans
14: The Los Angeles Times
15: Jeffrey Riffer
16: James Packer
17: Louis Farrakhan
19: Wally Pope
20: Gensler
21: Parents who subscribe to ABCMouse
22: Graham Norton and other celebrity strokers
23: The apologist academics
24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
25: DirecTV and filmmakers buffing Dave’s channel
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“Sex — it’s interesting, but aberrative value of sex compared to the aberrative value of eight is zero. Of course, what happens to somebody like Freud that concentrates on sex, is he really doesn’t have guts enough to just kick completely outside all agreements with his civilization. And for somebody in 1894 to have suddenly said, ‘God — well, I tell you about God, he’s a trick!’ They probably would have lynched him. They’ll probably lynch me yet, but anyway … For somebody to have kicked outside the confines of the church at that time would have been too adventurous to contemplate. It almost is now.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 2, 1953
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“A Court of Ethics is convened on MSM Ann Tidman. She did not come on duty till 0930. This violates Policy No. 10. Ann Tidman is to appear before the Court at 1930 in the Aft Lounge. Court Officer is Ens. Wayne Alkire.” — Ens. C. Cariotaki, T/3rd Mate, Convening Officer, December 2, 1970
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“At a fundamental level of case address the Factors, Qs, Axioms of Scientology, Logics, Scales and Action Definitions plus associated LRH Source References are ORIGINATED by each person in their own terms and within their own context simply because as LRH states in THE STABILITY OF SCIENTOLOGY providing one actually APPLIES the subject these fundamental truths of life and existence are simply there to be found by anyone who does the spiritual work. THIS IS ALSO THE ACID TEST OF ANY RESEARCH ROUTE. DOES THE PERSON END UP ORIGINATING BASIC LRH PRECEPTS IN THEIR OWN TERMS AND CONTEXT? That’s WHY Scientology as defined by LRH is stable, WHY ‘Standard Tech’ exists and WHY one exercises the self-discipline to study and apply the PRINCIPLES of the subject as defined by LRH who quite simply was able to define these principles at a level of As-Isness beyond individuation because he created the opportunity for himself to test, verify and do so. Scientology was discovered and is there to be found by anyone who studies and applies it.”
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1996: Jason Scott, victor in his case against the Cult Awareness Network, has changed attorneys. Scientologist Kendrick Moxon, who has attempted to liquidate CAN, was dismissed. In his place, Graham Berry. “In replacing Kendrick Moxon, Jason Scott said that he had not seen a penny of his judgment against the Cult Awareness Network and that he was now retaining Graham Berry to try and negotiate a settlement that would both put a reasonable sum of money in his pocket and perhaps enable the Cult Awareness Network to emerge from the bankruptcy it filed as a result of his judgment against it. In addition, Mr. Scott said that he was tired of being a Scientology poster-boy, and that he felt Kendrick Moxon had discarded him after he had obtained the judgment against the Cult Awareness Network. Now, said Mr. Scott, he merely wants to settle his claims against CAN, obtain some money, reunite with his wife and family and put this whole saga behind him.”
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“I’m an old punk who never had much time for hippies, but in retrospect I gotta admit they accomplished more than we punks did. We just had better fashion and got the music back to where it should be. I don’t know, but it always seems that after a certain point in any movement that the soldiers outlive their usefulness and the diplomats always take over.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] TWO MORE WOMEN COME FORWARD TO LAPD WITH DANNY MASTERSON RAPE ALLEGATIONS
[TWO years ago] How to finance a Scientology church in a city without any Scientologists
[THREE years ago] DOX: Scientology’s pricey Florida ‘spiritual mecca’ keeps up its value in latest tax records
[FOUR years ago] You saw Bonny Elliott talk about her battle with Scientology; Now hear it from her husband
[FIVE years ago] Hey, Legoland: A former Scientology youth explains what your money will buy
[SIX years ago] Another Riffer-ific salvo from Scientology leader David Miscavige in our legal roundup
[SEVEN years ago] Here Comes Scientology, Here Comes Scientology, Right Down Hollywood Boulevard!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Targeting Eagle Scouts In New Initiative
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,138 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,642 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,162 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,182 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,073 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,380 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,248 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,022 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,826 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,142 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,708 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,627 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,795 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,376 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,637 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,675 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,388 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,913 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 268 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,443 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,994 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,143 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,463 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,318 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,437 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,793 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,096 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,202 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,604 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,476 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,059 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,554 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,808 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,917 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 2, 2020 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
