TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: People who knew Romey Beliles describe him as one of the friendliest and most resourceful people they knew. But he had a dark secret: His decades of frustration with the Church of Scientology which he documented in minute detail. This is his remarkable story. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Upon completion of the Purification Rundown, the person is now in good shape to receive auditing and get optimum gain from it. Auditing is what handles the bank. When the Purification Rundown is completed and the person has fully flattened Objectives, the Drug Rundown is his next step, and it is on the Drug Rundown that one handles the mental and spiritual reactions from drugs. An OT would (after OT III) be given the OT Drug Rundown. Or, if the person is on NED for OTs, he would receive the NED for OTs Drug Rundown. Thus, we are not looking at an endless run on the Purification Rundown. We’re seeking simply to handle the drug deposits and toxic residues in their restimulation and reinforcement of the bank, and vice versa. And by breaking up the balance of these two and handling the one side of it on the Purification Rundown we are freeing up the person to handle the other side of it, the bank facsimile side of it, in auditing — and successfully.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“Had the most fiendish idea the other day. I’m going to write a science fiction story (I still do, you know). I got a wonderful idea of writing about a government scientist who goes mad, you see, and the security is so terrific that nobody can find out what he’s doing, see? Not even his own boss, because the security is so terrific, you know? And when he orders materials he can’t tell anybody in the materiel department what it’s for because, of course, it’s so secret. You see, his security is very great. And he goes ahead and he builds up this thing which makes space solid. See, space becomes totally solid. See? And then puts it over the light lines to all the government offices everywhere. And of course, all the space in all government offices, complete with personnel, gets totally solid. And the last person that’s left is J. Edgar Spoofer. And he tries to explain it to this guy, that this guy doesn’t have the right to go ahead and do this in any direction and that he’s going to arrest him. But the guy tells J. Edgar Spoofer, ‘But look, you’re supposed to safeguard security in the government. And it says right here that my work is under total security and all actions I perform are under total security, so therefore, you’re violating your own order.’ So J. Edgar Spoofer steps back and lets the entirety of the Department of Justice and his office get totally solid. And everybody lived happily ever after.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 30, 1957
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“Celebrity Center doing very well. GI Affluence Trend since last SEPT! How do you like that! Hats off and a highly commended to Diana H., Yvonne Gillham and all the crew! Asho moving out in front with a high trend GI! Ira Chaleff and our Asho crew and USGO doing very well and USLO getting in there too! Very nice work and good teamwork by US offices! Asho Fnd not doing too badly but needs its own C/O. And good old AOLA still soaring into its Affluence Trend and all but Booksales normal or Affluence or Power GDSes, meaning its a near clean sweep of rising GDSes! It will be a $100,000 GI unless it overloads. The place must be simply bulging the walls. Fred Hare and our AOLA crew have recently been highly commended several times and are again. They need all the support they can get. I think Pac Plan should be revised to get Alex and Dave out there to give Fred a hand without changing anything they’ve got going but put in the Prod Org System. Wonderful to see what our people are doing and what they can do. This and all the good case gains aboard and in the field have me all cheered up!” — The Commodore, January 30, 1971
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“LRH might have been part of Brit agendas, but his agenda sided with the white South Africans for the benefit of the blacks. His tape predicted and explained what is happening and is the key for correction not only on South Africa but also in the Middle East.”
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2000: Mark Bunker, the creator of Xenu-TV, was arrested in Chicago this week for allegedly trespassing during the filming of a couple attempting to get a refund at the org. A description of the events from the couple was posted to a.r.s. “We were walking up to the door, I was behind [my husband] and Mark was behind me. And I remember two guys in black jackets coming up and they start grabbing Mark. They really roughed him up! They grabbed his arms and he started saying, ‘Who are you?’ They tried to get the camera out of his arms but he had a grip on it. They then said, ‘We’re Chicago Cops’ and we said, ‘Where’s your uniform? Where’s your ID?’ and he said, ‘Forget it lady, it doesn’t matter who I am’. I said ‘Why are you doing this to him, why are you pushing him around?’ Then they knocked his cell phone to the ground. This whole time he was holding his camera, he wouldn’t let go of his camera. He didn’t provoke anything! We were only on the sidewalk, we weren’t even on their property. They told us to come for the meeting at 7:30 so we come to the meeting and they attack this guy for nothing. We were standing away from the door, I’m behind [my husband] and Mark was behind ME so he was WAY outside! They took the camera he had a cell phone on and he was trying to call someone he said, ‘I wanna call my lawyer, I wanna call somebody.’ And they said ‘You’re going down, we’re going to lock you up and that’s it’. They wanted his camera and they were gonna lock him up. They never said ‘turn off the camera, back up’. I didn’t go inside because I said to the policeman that I knew, ‘I’m scared. What if they get me in there and never let me out? The lady (Pam?) from New York, she said they were hired to protect them. So they were hired by the org, and that’s why they jumped him. So they wanted us to come inside, they said, ‘We have a nice warm place for you inside, you know, with a dictionary and blah blah blah.’ She said, ‘I want you to sign the waiver’ I said, ‘We have a lawsuit against Marcus. You think I’m going to sign this? Do you think I’m crazy? You’d better give me all my money back.'”
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“If any kid ever needed a hickory switch it was L Ron Hubbard.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for Feb 2.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s respondent’s brief is due February 11.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Awaiting a court hearing date.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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 boasts about LA wildfires response — with celebrity glam thrown in
[TWO years ago] East Grinstead council gets an earful about Scientology, whether it wants it or not
[THREE years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Lisa Marie Presley on Scientology, its leader David Miscavige, and why she left
[FOUR years ago] We wondered what was in that new Scientology app: Now we know because we got in!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology in Russia, a series by historian Chris Owen, part 3: The current crackdown
[SIX years ago] SCIENTOLOGY FORCES RELIGIOUS ARBITRATION ON VALERIE HANEY IN KIDNAPPING LAWSUIT
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology targets Disney with anti-‘Aftermath’ rally, attendees number in the tens
[EIGHT years ago] A private eye comes clean: ‘Scientology is a disgrace to the world’
[NINE years ago] Putting back a family ripped apart by Scientology can be easier said than done
[TEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s magic chalk, and other Scientology miracles at the ’07 Birthday Event
[ELEVEN years ago] Another Secret Lives leak: L. Ron Hubbard enjoyed humiliating people under hypnosis
[TWELVE years ago] Jefferson Hawkins finishes off our series on Scientology ethics with a reprieve
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s Atlanta Drug Rehab Crumbling: Executive Director Mary Rieser Out
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,524 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,028 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,534 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,084 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,074 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,460 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,955 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,259 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,910 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,128 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,682 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,023 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,594 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,510 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,677 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,259 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,518 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,270 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,835 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,150 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,325 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,007 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,344 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,197 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,313 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,675 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,086 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,474 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,358 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,923 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,434 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,694 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,798 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 30, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
