Scientology spying on Amy Scobee and Mat Pesch: Cameras pointed in their home

 
Alanna Warren is back with even more details about what it was like to work as a private investigator for Scientology in Florida around the year 2010. Previously, she told us some details about her task of following Mike Rinder and Christie Collbran and the people who came to their house.

But before that, she was assigned to keep a close watch on former Scientology Sea Org officials Amy Scobee and Mat Pesch. We asked her for some details on that, and we got a response from Amy herself.

When I first started working we were following Mat and Amy. We stayed in the Ebb Tide Resort off Bay Esplanade, in Clearwater Beach. Our motel room had a direct view of the backside of Mat and Amy’s apartment. We could see right through their balcony sliding door with the video camera. It was set up looking through the kitchen window of our room. There was a computer monitor connected to it displaying the feed from the video camera. It was also hooked up to a DVR system so that everything recorded could be saved and sent to the Church of Scientology.

Either I or the other intern would stay in the motel room while Dwayne Powell, Terry Roffler, and the other one of us would be positioned in our rental vehicles waiting for them to leave. We weren’t allowed to park our rental cars at the motel. We had to park down the street. So once Amy and Mat left for the day we had to quickly grab our gear and run down the street to get in our vehicle to join the others in mobile surveillance.

Even though we did this, the case was considered “overt.” The church (or as I was told, the “corporate client”) wanted them to know they were being followed.

Dwayne said the plan was to run them out of town. He tried to accomplish this by ruining their business. Mat and Amy ran a thrift furniture business out of a warehouse. Dwayne would go on Craigslist and buy as many things as he could before Mat could and then sell them himself. He had me keep records of all the stuff he bought and relisted, some of it on Craigslist. When Mat did sell something, one person would stay back and watch Amy at the warehouse while the others followed Mat to the delivery.

At that time I was still in school. Sometimes I would drive down there, work 10 to 12 hours, and then have to drive back home in the middle of the night because I had class the next day.

In the beginning of the case Dwayne actually had me stay in the apartment below Mat and Amy. He wanted to know if it was possible to hear them talking. I wasn’t able to hear anything though so I went back to staying at the Ebb Tide.

Even though this case was overt, we still switched out our rental cars often. When we got a new rental car we’d have to meet up with Dwayne down the street from the Avis outlet we were using. He had do-it-yourself window tint and he personally tinted all the windows on the rental cars.

— Alanna Warren

And from Amy Scobee: Thank you for this additional information. All of the tax-exempt money that Scientology has spent trying to intimidate and keep us silent has been a complete and utter failure. And they have never chased us out of any town, including Clearwater – where we celebrated Mother’s Day with Mat’s family. Again, we are happy that Alanna has come forward to shed light on the underbelly of Scientology’s “Fair Game” tactics against those standing up to this criminal cult. We will never run from Scientology and will not stop exposing their destructive policies, practices, and abuse of people’s human rights, until it is brought to an end.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“When I solve a case I always ask the pc for one unnamed favor. I’ve never called these favors in. The favor I tell you now for the first time: Whatever else you are, be a good Scientologist and help me clear these Earth people.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958

 
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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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH

— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see

[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney

 
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Source Code

“Now you get down toward the Center of this galaxy and the possibility of finding somebody without the Helatrobus Implants, of finding any foreign implant system, will probably be totally negligible. Probably nonextant, you see? But out here you got a mixed bag and we don’t know what they did in the next galaxy. See? Now, science fiction writers following the cue of some chap, I’ve forgotten his name now, Einstein, Beinstein, something like that, who said that MC squared over C wouldn’t go, man, and that the speed of light could not be excessive. And actually I was looking up some speed tables the other day, and a trillion light years per day is not full throttle on a space wagon. So there’s traffic between galaxies and there’s traffic between islands of galaxies and other islands of galaxies. Interesting.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 21, 1963

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“The auditing was in general better today. Auditors go in fads — now it’s ‘feelings.’ Nobody has any aches, pains or misemotions. They have ‘feelings!’ What happened to good old PAIN. Some aren’t able to confront the flak we get into. It takes a bit of guts to be around Flag. And some get very nervous and want to leave. We have 3 or 4 good things I don’t quit. Thanks for holding the ship together.” — The Commodore, May 21, 1969

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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Way before I ever got into Scientology I had total recall on having gone to the implant station and I was showed a film of Christ dying on the cross. I felt great sympathy for him because I was WAY down on the tone scale – I had just got done destroying an entire planet and torturing the people, and I felt so bad about it that I tried to kill myself by pushing myself spiritually down as far as I could go – but of course that only ends up in TOTAL Failure. Of course, even though I had total recall on everything that had happened on the implant station, the evil beings tricked me after putting me in a doll body that looked totally like the one I used to have and then they kicked me out of it with an extremely strong force of electrical voltage, shooting me out into outer space and I fell next to a big glowing white orb, which I thought was God. It spoke to me telepathically and told me I could go down to earth (the beautiful blue marble we were looking at) and do anything I wanted after asking what I wanted to do – Ha! What a lie that is!”

 
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Past is Prologue

2001: The trial of Jesse Prince, accused of growing marijuana at his home in Largo, Florida was held this week. The jury could not reach a verdict, and the prosecutor has decided not to re-try the case. The Tampa Tribune reported that Scientology’s private investigators were involved in the investigation. “For months, a high-profile attorney for a prominent critic of the Church of Scientology has tried to show the church is behind a minor drug charge against his client. Now, on the eve of Jesse Prince’s trial on a misdemeanor charge of growing marijuana, defense lawyer Denis deVlaming has hit what he considers pay dirt. Largo police Sgt. Howard Crosby testified he quickly learned of the church’s involvement after a private detective accused Prince of being a marijuana and cocaine dealer. ‘From Day One, when they told me who these people were that were involved and what’s going on, I just wanted to get rid of this case as quickly as possible,’ Crosby said. After Prince’s August 2000 arrest on the misdemeanor cultivation charge, the private detective suggested additional charges of sale or possession of drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, because a school was near Prince’s home, and child abuse, because two children lived in the home, Crosby said. ‘And I said, A marijuana plant on the back porch? I’m not going to go there.'”

 
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Random Howdy

“The only other ‘church’ I can think of that stoops to calling people names is the Westboro Baptist Church.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Retrial scheduled, jury selection begins March 29. Next pretrial hearing: Feb 16.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing Feb 13.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next status conference Feb 13.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: March 15, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— 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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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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] THE VALESKA PARIS DECLARATION: Here’s her full report to Clearwater PD on Scientology abuses
[TWO years ago] Day four of the Danny Masterson prelim: The arguments and a ruling!
[THREE years ago] Scientology so stoked you watched ‘Spread a Smile’ video, it’s trying to cash in tonight
[FOUR years ago] A Scientologist is brutally murdered in Peoria, but you didn’t hear it from Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s elaborate use of child labor for pennies an hour, spelled out in black and white
[SIX years ago] Scientology may be crumbling, but around the world it’s still plotting a planetary takeover
[SEVEN years ago] Atack: Contradictions in L. Ron Hubbard’s “tech” only increase Scientology discipline
[EIGHT years ago] Leah Remini and Paulette Cooper? Scientology can start worrying now
[NINE years ago] No, LA Weekly, Tom Cruise’s career was not ruined by a GIF
[TEN years ago] Disconnection: Scientology’s Most Toxic Sacrament

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 21, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone