June 24, 2020: We publish our latest interview with Joe Reaiche, someone we’ve spoken to numerous times. And once again, we talk to him about being declared “suppressive” (an enemy) by the Church of Scientology, which requires his own family to cut off all contact with him in order to remain Scientology members in good standing. That not only includes his former wife Carol Masterson and the two stepsons he’s helped to raise, Danny and Christopher Masterson, but also his own children with Carol, Alanna Masterson and Jordan Masterson.
All four of the Masterson kids are actors, and although less famous than their older brothers, Alanna and Jordan have been increasing their notoriety in recent years, Alanna with a recurring role on The Walking Dead, and Jordan with a recurring role on Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing.
October 14, 2020: Fox announces that the ninth season of Last Man Standing will be its last. The final episode, which will feature Jordan Masterson, is scheduled to air on May 20, 2021.
May 19, 2021: Jordan Masterson is sitting a few feet away from us on Day Two of Danny Masterson’s preliminary hearing in the courtroom of Judge Charlaine Olmedo. Over four days, the three women accusing Danny of raping them will give live testimony for the first time of the harrowing, violent incidents. Each day, members of Danny’s family attend the hearing to show their support. At the end of the hearing, Judge Olmedo rules that enough evidence has been presented to bound Masterson over for trial. It’s scheduled to begin August 29, and if he’s convicted of all three rapes he’s facing 45 years to life in prison.
June 27, 2021: An automobile collision of some kind occurs at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Manzanita Street in Los Angeles.
January 18, 2022: Two women who say they were injured in the auto collision file a lawsuit at Los Angeles Superior Court against a man named Jordan Masterson.
January 25, 2022: We report that Carol Masterson and her son Christopher Masterson have put up their Glendale house to help secure Danny Masterson’s bail of $3.3 million that is keeping him out of jail while he awaits trial. Presumably, they do this so Danny can sell his Hollywood Hills home (for $6 million) which was helping to secure the bond.
April 2, 2022: A process server delivers the auto collision lawsuit at the same Glendale house that was used to back Danny’s bond, owned by Carol and Christopher Masterson. According to the process server, they deliver the papers to a “White female, 40-45 years of age, 5’5″, 140 lbs, black hair.” If Jordan’s sister Alanna Masterson happens to have been at her mother’s home and accepted the papers, she fits the basic description, but she is just 33 years old, not 40 to 45.
April 21, 2022: We learn about the lawsuit for the first time and call up the attorney, Tevin Chopurian, representing the two women suing Jordan Masterson.
“I’m not authorized to tell you anything about it,” she says when we tell her why we’re calling. She repeats it when we say we’re just interested in some basic information about what happened in the intersection that resulted in the injuries of her clients.
April 22, 2022: We email a request to the LAPD’s public information office, asking for information about the June 27, 2021 collision.
May 2, 2022: Having heard nothing from the LAPD regarding our request, we call the public information office, explain what we’re asking for.
The PIO laughs. “You think we have records of every auto collision that happened a year ago here? We would only have that if it involved, you know, someone famous.”
“It was someone famous,” we reply.
“Well, you really need to submit a California Public Records Act request. You can do it through our website.”
We submit an official request through the website, asking for an incident report that would describe what happened in the intersection of Sunset Blvd and Manzanita Street on June 27, 2021.
May 4, 2022: The LAPD rejects our request, saying no such records were discovered.
Today: Having reached a dead end, we thought we’d fill you in before this lawsuit disappears into a (probably very expensive) black hole.
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“The FB, the FAO and the FSO presented me with an enormous KEY TO THE PLANET to celebrate 9 May, the 21st Anniversary of the publication of “Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health.” THANK YOU! A party was proposed but was considered too little notice and everyone too rushed. The presentation was appreciated. These fantastic stats also came up on 9 May. It was quite an anniversary.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 10, 1971
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“NOTICE: We are extending our stay in this port until Wednesday 12.5.71 so that we can complete a heavy campaign to strengthen PRO Area Control. A Dinner Dance is being held at a top local hotel on Tuesday night for shore VIPs, Contractors and business associates.” — Lt. N.F. Starkey, Captain FSO, May 10, 1971
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“Today I was driving to my university for my work and I was wondering why LRH 2.0 is interested in helping inorganic beings. In his previous life he was not really interested (History of Man) and suddenly my two tires went flat. There is good cause in this.”
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1995: Grady Ward reported this week a call to his publisher, Austin Code Works, by a man identifying himself as Eugene Ingram, a well-known Scientology PI. “He spoke for ten minutes, did not identify his employer (duh!), and made statements like: ‘Grady is the president of ACW, isn’t he?’ [No] ‘Did you know the FBI investigated Grady for his involvement with the NuPrometheus League [a group claiming responsibility for stealing and distributing Apple Computer Macintosh ROM code in June, 1989].’ ‘The FBI knew he did it because Grady was the only one fired [a provable lie!] from Apple in 1989.’ Ingram then begin to pump for financial information, such as ‘Does he make more than $10,000 in royalties [per annum, presumably] from MobyCrypto? Moby Lexicons? No? How about $5,000?'”
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“The gambling analogy for Scientology is more appropriate than the drug one. At least with drugs you actually get something real for your money — the fact it may be really bad for you is a different story. In Scientology all you get is air and worthless slips of paper, just like the lottery.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for May 5.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court.
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Next hearing scheduled for June 29.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
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 BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. 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] Ahoy, thetan: Ready to fondle empty bottles on Scientology’s cruiseless cruise ship?
[TWO years ago] On Mother’s Day, the moms who suffer and defy Scientology’s cruel ‘disconnection’ policy
[THREE years ago] More signs that things are really going totally great for the Church of Scientology right now
[FOUR years ago] How much do the Don Rogers letters shake up early Dianetics history? Two experts weigh in.
[FIVE years ago] Nazanin Boniadi’s FBI testimony: Cast as Tom Cruise’s girlfriend by Scientology
[SIX years ago] Phil and Willie’s excellent adventure: Taking on Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ policy in L.A.
[SEVEN years ago] Ryan Hamilton files his 28th fraud lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[EIGHT years ago] Jamie DeWolf: I’ve found the last memoir of the son of Scientology’s founder
[NINE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY FILES TO REMOVE GARCIA ATTORNEYS FROM FRAUD LAWSUIT
[ELEVEN years ago] Harvey Weinstein Backing Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master”
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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 2,660 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,165 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,715 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,705 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,596 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,902 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,771 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,545 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,876 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,349 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,665 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,231 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,150 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,318 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,898 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,160 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,196 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,911 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,436 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 791 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,966 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,517 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,666 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,986 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,841 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,960 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,316 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,619 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,725 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,123 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,999 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,582 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,077 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,331 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,440 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 10, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
