Secrets of Scientology’s most secretive branch: CST and its strange vaults

We’re always encouraged when an Underground Bunker reader takes a deep dive into Scientology’s arcane depths, such as the time we were treated to a thorough examination of founder L. Ron Hubbard’s war record by a military veteran. This time, another reader has come forward with some eye-opening research on Scientology’s most secretive branch, the Church of Spiritual Technology, which operates vaults for storing Hubbard’s writings and lectures in order to last for thousands of years, and also the compound where we believe Shelly Miscavige is kept out of sight. We think you’re going to enjoy this thorough look at CST’s underlying facts. Today: CST’s corporate structure, and its numerous subsidiaries.

 
A Foundation of Secrecy

Whistleblowers have long pinpointed the Church of Spiritual Technology headquarters to be in a remote compound in Twin Peaks, CA, 80 miles east of Los Angeles.

However, records show that CST uses a pair of mailing addresses in Los Angeles for its business and property filings, sometimes interchangeably. The first address, 7051 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA, actually houses the Scientology venture known as Author Services Inc. The second CST address is simply a mailbox at a strip mall in central Los Angeles. These addresses form a layer of secrecy around CST.

Records indicate that CST has approximately 20 personnel today, known to hail from Scientology’s Sea Organization. The CST corporate officers listed in California filings are Sara Reyes (CEO, formerly known as Sara Bellin), Jane McNairn (Secretary) and Arthur Bolstad (Treasurer).

CST’s Articles of Incorporation also require several trustees, who must be active Scientologists for at least eight years. All of these individuals serve at the pleasure of David Miscavige and reportedly have signed resignation letters filed away.

Meanwhile, Shelly Miscavige, once the number two official in Scientology hierarchy, is not listed on any documentation for CST. In fact, there are no records indicating she has any role, even within this small component of Scientology.

 
CST Non-profits

CST has set up six additional non-profits over its history, using the same mailing addresses and corporate officers as the Church of Spiritual Technology itself. These entities have also experienced their share of fines and suspensions. Several have been abandoned by CST entirely.

 
The Church of Spiritual Technology was first established in California in 1982. The Church of Spiritual Technology, Inc. was established as a charitable organization in Florida in July 1997, sharing the same tax-exempt identification number as the original CST. This Florida nonprofit was later revoked in September 2010 by state officials for its failure to file records.

Heritage Properties, LLC was set up in March 2003, and its subordinate counterparts in the United Kingdom and New Jersey were set up in more recent years. This group of nonprofits reveal CST’s more recent focus, the “Heritage Project,” responsible for purchasing and refurbishing several of L Ron Hubbard’s former homes. The UK component, Heritage Properties, Ltd., is likely part of its elaborate legal scheme to avoid paying taxes to the United Kingdom, since Scientology was denied charity status in that country.

Preservation Media International and Southern View Ranch were set up as CST non-profits in California in 2011 and 2016, respectively. However, records indicate the IRS did not endorse these as nonprofits and never issued them tax-exempt identification numbers. Each were subsequently either abandoned by CST officials or closed by California for lack of supporting documentation in 2018.

 
CST’s Businesses

In an unusual set of moves, CST has also created at least three for-profit businesses using its tried and true mailing addresses and corporate officers.

 
Mile High, Inc. is a California company established in September 1985, and long reported on Wikipedia and other outlets as a CST company. This company sometimes does business as “M H Inc.”

Records indicate it was originally set up as a property holding company prior to CST gaining tax-exempt status in 1993. Today, its use is primarily an attempt to mask the identity of CST and its headquarters in Twin Peaks, CA. While it lists a separate Sea Org member as its Treasurer, its other officers, address and even registered agent all follow the CST pattern.

In more recent years, IP Designs, Inc. and Archival Technologies, LLC were established by CST management as California companies in 2008 and 2014, respectively. Document searches indicate these two entities are shell companies with no known physical property or employees. It is unclear if either company held intellectual property or portions of CST’s vast wealth. Again, these companies mimic the officers and addresses of CST itself.

These companies have all repeatedly run afoul of California’s state filing requirements and have been fined or even suspended by the California’s Tax Franchise Board during their histories. In fact, CST executives sometimes appear to struggle keeping their stories straight and maintaining the up-to-date filings required to operate.

IP Designs, Inc. was closed by CST in 2019 following four delinquency penalties and two periods of suspension.

Meanwhile in 2021, CST’s Secretary Jane McNairn attempted to reinstate Archival Technologies, LLC by filing a standard form with California officials, even though the company was actually suspended for missing its tax filings. In the process, McNairn listed her CST email address on the form. This company remains suspended from conducting business in California today for its lack of financial filings.

No doubt, such lapses occur in part from CST’s own insistence on extreme secrecy by operating with “cut-out” mailing addresses, rather than allowing mail and notifications be sent directly CST Headquarters in Twin Peaks, CA.

A concentration of entities using the same address and personnel is considered a red flag in many financial oversight investigations around the world. In fact, the US Treasury Department’s own Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has advised banks to more thoroughly review the financial transactions of companies when they share similar characteristics, such as the same address, registered agent or have other address inconsistencies.

Finding a group of companies and nonprofits that share the same characteristics is even more unusual. While legal to establish, as a group, their ongoing operations bring up many questions of self-dealing, proper accountability and oversight. US taxpayers, and even Scientologists donating to these causes, deserve that oversight.

Next time: We explore the Church of Spiritual Technology’s property holdings across the US today.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Now all of these invisible masses that preclears have around them are actually simply symptoms of mass — loss, mass-loss. Now when an individual has no visio, has never seen anything, couldn’t see anything, the only thing he’s looking at is a stuck loss. Got the idea? He’s looking at the nothingness of something that was there.” — 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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker

 
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Source Code

“How would you like to go into the archives of some space opera society, all of which is delivered to your hand. And these, by the way, are quite interesting as archives. Operated one about 612 million years ago, something like that, which was quite interesting. Card-file systems were all stored in a basement. And I think the basement of that computer room was about the size of Chicago. And the machines which read that occupied an area — just the machines which read it — that’s, you know, the final results appeared on and so forth, looked like seven or eight Grand Central Stations. You know, just the banks of machines. And the reanalysis machines on that were all composed in a little hut that was about a thousand feet long by about four hundred feet wide. And everything was all done on automatic card shuttles, and pneumatic tubes and comparisons. And these IBM machines down here look something like a child’s hurdy-gurdy or something, compared to one of these other machines. These machines could get the finest, tiniest difference between a umph and a umph. And then they could get all things that had the tiniest association with umph and umph. You talk about your smallest and your largest magnitude of comparison — tremendous, see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 25, 1963

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“LOCAL MONEY: Be sure you turn in your local wallpaper. I sure hope it’s cooler at sea!” — The Commodore, July 25, 1969

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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The original definition of the word ‘Free Zone’ was given by Capt. Bill Robertson (CBR) in the mid 1980s. It is based on two decrees received by CBR and said to be originated by LRH, after he (LRH) had discarded his body and assumed the identity of Galactic Patrol commander Lron Lray. Many people freak out on the idea of LRH assuming the identity of a Galactic Patrol commander and communicating telepathically with CBR. But LRH himself describes how many people on Earth have in fact other identities or ‘selves’ in other parts of the universe. And those alternate identities can be contacted by a process on the e-meter.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2001: The Oklahoman reported on July 1st that Narconon is moving its Oklahoma facility from Newkirk to a new location near Canadian, OK. “Narconon is closing its Newkirk branch in favor of combining the entire treatment site at Arrowhead Lodge near Canadian in Pittsburg County. The center is expected to open in the next couple of months. The Narconon
Chilocco New Life Center began accepting patients in 1990 under the premise that it didn’t need state certification, since the site near Newkirk was on tribal land. Residents heard stories that the center would have 1,000 beds and that the treatment used was one developed by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Some residents helped the few clients who wandered
into Newkirk wanting to leave Narconon. There were stories about what some thought was an unorthodox treatment using vitamins and saunas. Things have quieted since then in the Kay County community of 2,200 people. The fear that the drug treatment center would become a recruiting machine for Scientology seems to be gone. Although Narconon uses Hubbard’s techniques and received donations from the church, it isn’t and never was intended to be a recruiting tool for the church, said Gary Smith, executive director. ‘Here it’s 11 years later, and we’re still Narconon,’ he said.

 
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Random Howdy

“I understand where you’re coming from, but the bottom line is that Scientology is a con, and conning people is illegal regardless of whether the victims are dupes and suckers.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— 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 June 28.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing August 1.
— 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] Scientology’s own publication shows how much David Miscavige worship is growing
[TWO years ago] Scientology 50 & 21 years ago today: The strange deaths of Susan Meister & Stacy Moxon
[THREE years ago] Danny Masterson finds himself in a changed era, but his victims came forward before #MeToo
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is desperate to get its clutches on your children. Here’s proof.
[FIVE years ago] Did a little sunlight send Scientologists scattering for cover? An international update.
[SIX years ago] Claire Headley on growing up in Scientology, and other HowdyCon highlights
[SEVEN years ago] Megan Shields, the physician Scientology used to vouch for its drug rehabs, dies of cancer
[EIGHT years ago] MIKE RINDER AND REPORTER: MAN CONVICTED OF HACKING WAS WORKING FOR SCIENTOLOGY
[NINE years ago] Mike Rinder takes on Scientology’s uneven ‘Disconnection’ rules
[TEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY ASKS U.S. SUPREME COURT FOR EMERGENCY STAY IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Implosion: Commenters of the Week!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 25, 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