It’s been more than seven years since we first broke the news at the Underground Bunker that several Scientologists were facing felony charges for an elaborate scheme to defraud California’s Medi-Cal health insurance.

According to state investigators, the scheme was run out of a rehab called “American Health and Education Clinics” at the World Literacy Crusade, [...]]]>

 
It’s been more than seven years since we first broke the news at the Underground Bunker that several Scientologists were facing felony charges for an elaborate scheme to defraud California’s Medi-Cal health insurance.

According to state investigators, the scheme was run out of a rehab called “American Health and Education Clinics” at the World Literacy Crusade, a notorious Scientology front operation in Compton, California. Hanan Islam (who had founded AHEC), three of her children, two other counselors at the rehab, and three local high school educators were all arrested and charged.

The scheme allegedly made use of unwitting high school students who were put through a Narconon program (Scientology’s brand of rehab) — even though they didn’t have drug problems — so the state could be fraudulently billed.

The high school educators who supplied those students to the scheme lost their jobs, two of Hanan’s children pleaded guilty, and Hanan herself died of cancer last year while awaiting trial.

That leaves only her son, Ronnie “Rizza” Islam, 33, still facing charges. And after years of delays, jury selection for his trial begins today at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, just down the hall on the ninth floor where the Danny Masterson rape trial ended on May 31 with his conviction.

Unlike Masterson’s two trials, which were heavy with testimony about Scientology, we don’t expect that Scientology will be mentioned very much during Rizza Islam’s trial. At a preliminary hearing during which the scheme was laid out in detail, Scientology didn’t get mentioned.

But still, we’re interested in how this proceeding goes, and Jeffrey Augustine, who attended that preliminary hearing, will be going to the trial and sending us reports.

Over the weekend, Rizza and his attorney Jeremy McLymont let it be known that Rizza remains defiant and sees his prosecution as politically motivated. McLymont put out an eye-opening press release that we thought you’d want to see…

 
And Rizza himself took to social media to rally his fans…

 
As we pointed out in our first story about this case in 2015, the World Literacy Crusade had quite a checkered history as a Scientology front operation, founded in 1993 by Alfreddie Johnson, a Baptist minister who had turned to Scientology following the 1992 LA riots. Hanan Islam became Alfreddie’s partner and opened the AHEC rehab there in 2004. According to the WLC website, the clinic used the Scientology Narconon program, and in photos from the website Rizza could be seen using an e-Meter.

But Rizza is an interesting figure because he was also a prominent member of the west coast branch of the Nation of Islam.

In fact, NOI, under its leader Minister Louis Farrakhan, was becoming more and more involved with Scientology, a crossover that reached a new urgency in 2010 thanks to one of Scientology’s well-known celebrities: Leah Remini.

Remini later regretted donating money to help Nation of Islam figures, and in particular key NOI Los Angeles figure Tony Muhammad, to become involved in Scientology.

Today, Tony Muhammad is known as Abdul Malik Sayyid Muhammad, and he is a Freedom Medal winner, the highest award a Scientologist can receive. Just this week, the church put out this mailer showing that Muhammad has reached the level of OT 3, which contains the infamous material about a galactic overlord named Xenu.

 
Rizza Islam, on the other hand, has played down his Scientology involvement since his arrest, but his notoriety has only grown. In 2021, he was named one of the twelve biggest sources of online disinformation about vaccines in the country, a distinction that won him admiration from Infowars host Alex Jones.

Even then, however, facing felony counts for health insurance fraud, and notoriety for being a major national source of vaccine disinformation, Rizza and this felony case had never been mentioned in the Los Angeles Times.

We are curious to see if that changes today.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“There are now three styles of auditing: Tone 40, Formal and Engram Auditing. The first two are quite adequate to clear fifty percent of cases. It takes a new approach to get enough locks off the rocks of the remaining fifty percent to get them clear too. I’ve been busy, busy, busy. I had the largest ACC ever held in the world during October and November. And I had the luck in research to put us on a new plateau of stable clearing.” — 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

“The president of a law school had been employed to obtain this warrant and the Chief Federal United States Marshal, I think they have a sort of a feeling like they’re still western marshals or something. They go around with big guns hanging on them and so forth. The only trouble is they normally pick people off Skid Row to have these jobs, and it’s rather incongruous, you see. And this fellow, he was utterly mad-dogging because he was sure that I had just beaten up two of his marshals. Actually, I hadn’t beaten up a marshal. I had taken the gun away from one and told him how to use it and put it back in his holster, because I thought he would get into trouble. I explained it to him. I said, ‘You’ll get in trouble waving that about and so forth; and this is the hammer, and this is the trigger.’ And he handed it over to me, and I said, ‘These are the butt plates, and there’s the ammunition,’ and so forth, and slid the cartridges out of the chamber and told him to put them in his pocket, and put the gun back. Nobody was picking on him, and it was all all right, and he did it. You think I’m kidding you, but he did it. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 26, 1961

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“There’s lots of good work being done — it’s in the majority. For instance the great majority of sessions today were excellent. And on changing anchorage all hands, bow and stern anchors, there wasn’t a single flub. And I had a fresh lobster dinner beautifully done. And several people handled the naval visit beautifully indeed. So I can quote an old poem: A HEALTH UNTO THE HAPPY/A FIG FOR HE WHO FRETS.” — The Commodore, June 26, 1969

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Overheard in the FreeZone

“If it were to be the case that some extraterrestrial beings do in fact eat human bodies, would it be ‘better’ if those ETs audited the humans they were going to consume? Just as we eat chickens and cows and pigs. Shall we audit the chickens, cows and pigs? So as to reduce the ‘entheta’ coming in? It is a well known fact that sheep or goat meat has toxins and tastes bad if it is not well ‘processed.’ In Mexico, the ‘processing’ starts by getting the sheep or goat drunk with alcohol, so that it does not suffer from stress. And there is also the Jewish concept of Kosher food. It is intended so that the animal does not suffer unnecessarily from the killing process. ‘The ‘entheta’ generated in the crazy ‘farm factories’ (birth, rising and killing) is enormous and needs to be dealt with.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1995: An update on the charges against Scientology executives in Spain was posted this week. “In November of 1988, Heber Jentszch, president of the Church of Scientology International was detained along with 69 other Scientology officials. He was then arrested and imprisoned for approximately 30 days and later released on bail of close to one million dollars. He is now required to return to face the charges made by the state attorney in this case when it comes to trial. The scientologists face over 100 complaints ranging from fraud and coercion to illicit organization. The State Attorney will charge them with approximately 90 different illegal acts. Another named party in the case is the now head of the Office of Special Affairs or OSA, Mr. Kurt Weiland. Weiland, the object of a search and detention order by the Spanish police in 1983, was connected at that time to an alleged kidnapping as well as acts against dissident Scientologists in that country. It is also doubted that Weiland will present himself at the time of the trial as he has been named as a principal missionaire involved in some of the alleged illicit acts which caused the case to be opened. A date for the trial has not yet been established.”

 
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Random Howdy

“You’re the bees knees, i-Betty. You’re the one.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentencing on Aug 4.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for June 26 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

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.

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology is uniting vastly different countries to take over the world!
[TWO years ago] Scientology to US Supreme Court: Valerie Haney predicament is not a First Amendment case
[THREE years ago] Derek Bloch: Why is Scientology keeping a dying mother away from her son?
[FOUR years ago] Scientology destroyed her family, but this former Sea Org worker has a surprise ending
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO: ‘Chicago Fire’ star Christian Stolte’s tribute to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s sneaky strategy: Suck up to police departments through ‘Drug-Free’ campaigns
[SEVEN years ago] David Miscavige gets ribbon-happy in Florida: It’s the Scientology social media review!
[EIGHT years ago] Jefferson Hawkins on how Scientology closes minds — a new podcast
[NINE years ago] Scientology has a new recruitment video to get you to sign up for a billion years!
[TEN years ago] JUSTICE KENNEDY DENIES SCIENTOLOGY REQUEST FOR STAY IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE
[ELEVEN years ago] Luka Magnotta’s Scientology Screed: ‘I Wished Every Night That Tom Cruise Would Adopt Me’

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 26, 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

Way back in 2015, we told you that a Compton, California family had been charged with Medi-Cal fraud for sending the state insurance program fake reports of treatment from a jackleg Scientology “Narconon” rehab working out of the notorious World Literacy Crusade.

Two years later, we broke the news [...]]]>

Way back in 2015, we told you that a Compton, California family had been charged with Medi-Cal fraud for sending the state insurance program fake reports of treatment from a jackleg Scientology “Narconon” rehab working out of the notorious World Literacy Crusade.

Two years later, we broke the news that Danny Masterson, Scientology celebrity, was being investigated by the LAPD in connection with allegations from three women (which later grew to several more) that they had been raped by the That ’70’s Show actor while they too were in the church.

In the years since then, Underground Bunker readers know that we’ve been following every development in those cases as the Islam family’s trial for ripping off Medi-Cal was put off time and time again for no discernible reason, and while Danny Masterson was charged formally in June 2020 and then had his legal team throw up one delaying tactic after another to slow the case down.

Now, finally, both cases may be coming to a conclusion, and remarkably, at precisely the same time.

We learned this week that Rizza Islam, 32, the last Islam family member still facing charges in the Medi-Cal fraud scheme, is now scheduled for trial on October 24 in Los Angeles.

Yes, at the same time that Danny Masterson’s rape trial is scheduled, beginning October 11, to be going on in the very next courtroom on the ninth floor of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Rizza’s own trial will be starting up.

Danny Masterson and Rizza Islam, both on trial for felonies, and right next door to each other.

We’re going to have to clone ourselves or something if we’re going to keep an eye on both of them at the same time.

Just before last week’s “readiness hearing” was held in Rizza’s case, he went on a local radio program and dismissed the idea that he was facing a serious trial for defrauding the state of California. “They are charges that don’t apply to me,” he told KBLA’s Dominique DiPrima.

He said the case was “just a smear campaign,” and expressed the hope that the state would simply drop the matter at last week’s hearing. (It obviously didn’t.)

In case the state decided to pursue the matter, Rizza announced that he was ready. “I am choosing to go to trial to prove my innocence,” he said.

Rizza might want to make it sound like a minor occurrence and simply a smear campaign, but it’s no joke to face a felony trial on the ninth floor at the Clara Shortridge Foltz courthouse.

And we also find it interesting that he’s decided to roll the dice with a trial when his sisters got off so lightly after they decided to plead out from the case.

According to the state’s investigation that was presented in a preliminary hearing in 2019, the scheme’s mastermind was Rizza’s mother, Hanan Islam, a two-time felon who had founded the Narconon clinic at her partner Alfreddie Johnson’s infamous World Literacy Crusade, a Scientology front that was mired in controversy.

There’s no question that the clinic was offering Scientology’s style of rehab services, which it brands as Narconon. And also that Hanan Islam and her children were also involved in the church.

The clinic’s own website featured this photo of Rizza using a Scientology e-Meter with one of its young clients.

Hanan Islam was probably facing a lengthy penalty if she was convicted because this would have been her third felony. But she died in March of cancer at the age of 62.

Two of Rizza’s sisters, who had also been charged in the crime, pleaded no contest recently, and were given very light sentences. Nimat (45) was allowed to plead to a misdemeanor and will, in a year, have the case dropped against her entirely if she keeps out of trouble. Zakiyah (40) pleaded no contest to a felony and was sentenced to 150 hours of community service, but if she too steers clear of trouble, in a year she will be allowed to plead to a misdemeanor.

With the scam’s main figure dead, and the accomplices pleading to almost nothing, why is Rizza Islam so determined to face a felony trial on the infamous ninth floor? Was he really unable to work out something as favorable as the deal his sisters managed to achieve?

The biggest difference between Rizza and his sisters is that while they’ve remained very low profile, he’s spent the last seven years since his charges were announced making a name for himself.

He may downplay his involvement in Scientology these days, but Rizza is an interesting figure in the Scientology-Nation of Islam relationship, and he’s has worked to make himself an NOI “influencer” on social media.

He’s been so successful, last year he was named one of the country’s twelve most pernicious spreaders of vaccine disinformation in a major study.

Still (and we know this is something we’ve pointed out many times before), despite Rizza’s notoriety as an antivaxx firebrand (Alex Jones even admitted he was envious that Rizza had made the list of 12 most problematic disinformation agents), and the years that he’s faced felony charges in the bizarre Medi-Cal fraud scam that made use of high school students and ended the careers of some prominent local African-American educators, the Los Angeles Times has not written a single word about the case.

It will be interesting to see what they do when Rizza is literally on trial in October.

Meanwhile, there’s yet a third trial going on at the same time that will be competing for our attention. The civil trial of Paul Haggis is still scheduled to begin on October 11 in New York even though Haleigh Breest, the former publicist who alleges that Haggis raped her in 2013, has asked the court to move the case up to October 3. We’re still watching to see if the judge in that case agrees to moving the case up, which would, at least, give us a chance to observe the beginning of that trial before we head out to Los Angeles for the Masterson and Islam spectacles.

What a month it’s going to be.

 
——————–

Today’s Scientology happy news. Yes, an excerpt from an actual press release put out by the church this week.

The Grand Mosque of Rome (Moschea di Roma) is the largest mosque in the Western World. At 30,000 square meters, it can accommodate more than 12,000 faithful at a time. Located at the foot of the Monti Parioli, it is also the seat of the Italian Islamic Cultural Center.

A meeting place for religious services, it also serves a cultural and social role, providing religious education, wedding ceremonies, funeral services, exhibitions and conventions. The City Council of Rome donated the land for the mosque in 1974, the first stone was laid in 1984, and the President of the Italian Republic attended its inauguration on 21 June 1995.

 

 
Last month, Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology joined mosque members in an environmental initiative in the neighborhood surrounding the mosque, in keeping with the precepts shared by both Muslims and Scientologists. Islam places great emphasis on physical and spiritual cleanliness. And The Way to Happiness, the common-sense moral code written by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, a moral code Scientologists adhere to, enjoins people to safeguard and improve the environment.

The team of volunteers collected and disposed of brambles and shrubs, weeds, brushwood and trash, making access to the mosque by pedestrians easier and restoring the beauty of the area.

“It was a day that required great commitment from all the volunteers because of the overwhelming heat, but we were richly rewarded by the results,” said Elena Martini, spokesperson for the Church of Scientology in Rome.

 
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Now available: Bonus for our supporters

Episode 10 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers, and Jefferson Hawkins helps us understand Scientology’s new marketing ploys. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 9 available to everyone, with such guests as Patty Moher, Geoff Levin, Pete Griffiths, Sunny Pereira, Bruce Hines, Jeffrey Augustine, and Claire Headley. Go here to get the episodes!

 
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Source Code

“One court in Virginia, they proved conclusively that Scientology was a healing science, because it cured things, and actually brought people into court to show that they had been cured of something by Scientology, which proved it was a healing cience, and gave some, and I don’t even think though they had the nerve to call the auditor in and sentence him. I think he remains unsentenced to this day. It was just too much nonsense, you see. In other words, they can go clear around the line. That proves we’re a healing subject, you see. Wild business. Look the length and breadth of the land, I don’t think they could have found anybody who’d been healed by anything on medicine. But they were proving our cases for us.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 29, 1963

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“The Club Dinner aboard was a great success and the Port Captain’s org officer is filing commendables in the folders of all who contributed. We apparently were a CIA shp that really smuggles cats to hang crowbars on banana trees. But this is all scotched. The guests were very pleased. (I’m going to send bills for advertising to both CIA and the Mafia.) This Club didn’t know they had other clubs in nearby ports. And by the way a recent mission reports the last country we were in all cool. The Rep there reported a flap, failed to report the flap was vanished.” — The Commodore, August 29, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“We are getting into the nooks and crannies of LRH’s mind. Few have done that before.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2001: Excerpts from the latest Freewinds Magazine were posted to a.r.s this week, with a summary of events at an OT summit. “ED INT, Guillaume Lesevre gave the stats for the past year. Nearly 8,000 new people taking their first step on The Bridge. 240 million people reached through radio, TV, print media and dissemination programs. 824,000 people introduced to LRH tech – highest ever. A cumulative total of 3000 events and seminars held which contributed to helping more than 10,000 Scientologists on to their next step on The Bridge. The number of Clears taking their next take on The Bridge increased by nearly 5 times — highest in history.”

 
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Random Howdy

“After the horrorshow called Jonestown and the government-led debacle at Waco, no one has to wonder at the government’s reluctance to revisit Cultland. The only reason they got involved with FLDS was because of the rampant pedophilia. And even with that righteous justification, the Feds got all kinds of shit from the religious right wing in this country.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for October 24 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— 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, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 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, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— 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.

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] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 4: Destroying a planet with the touch of a finger
[TWO years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 18: Mark ‘Marty’ Rathbun
[THREE years ago] Another legal fight brewing over Scientology’s refusal to return future payments
[FOUR years ago] Some countries force Scientology to open the books: Here’s one report on how bad business is
[FIVE years ago] LIVE FROM SAN ANTONIO: Will a former Scientology enforcer be compelled to testify?
[SIX years ago] A Scientologist on the ballot: OC candidate keeping mum about his anti-psych work
[SEVEN years ago] Louisiana congressman posts Narconon pic, then yanks it after we point out Scientology link
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology yesterday and today: Reports from Mark Bunker and Dennis Erlich
[NINE years ago] What the Daily News Left Out of its Story on Scientology in Harlem
[TEN years ago] Court Testimony: Narconon Intentionally Deceived a Florida Drug Court About Its Licensing
[ELEVEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 15: Andreas Heldal-Lund

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 29, 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

Nearly seven years ago — seven years! — we broke the news that several members of Scientologist Hanan Islam’s family had been charged with felonies. California state investigators alleged that the Islams had been ripping off the Medi-Cal program with the use of a jackleg Scientology Narconon drug [...]]]>

Nearly seven years ago — seven years! — we broke the news that several members of Scientologist Hanan Islam’s family had been charged with felonies. California state investigators alleged that the Islams had been ripping off the Medi-Cal program with the use of a jackleg Scientology Narconon drug rehab in Compton, California.

Years later, a detailed preliminary hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court featured the state laying out its case, that Hanan Islam was the ringleader and that her son Ronnie (known as “Rizza”) and daughters Zakiyah and Nimat had also taken part in the scheme, which made use of unwitting high school students and some helpful local high school educators, who lost their jobs over it.

According to the state, Hanan and her kids had found a way to use the Narconon rehab they had started at the notorious World Literacy Crusade in order to file false claims that, over several years, amounted to about $4 million stolen from the state. Adding to the court drama was that for a while Hanan and her son Rizza had tried out some bizarre and disruptive sovereign citizen stunts, claiming the court had no jurisdiction over them, which got them both stints in jail.

We couldn’t really understand why the case was put off year after year. The state, after all, said that it had piles of evidence that Hanan and her kids had run the scheme. But there was always some excuse — one of the defense attorneys died, for example, and Hanan claimed that she was dying of cancer.

Well, that did turn out to be true. In March, Hanan died of cancer at 62, and we wondered if it would take the wind out of the case. She had not only been the ringleader, according to prosecutors, but she had also been convicted of two previous felonies and so was probably looking at a major penalty if convicted.

Rizza, meanwhile, has become quite notorious on his own over these past seven years, an interesting figure who grew up in Scientology but also embraces the Nation of Islam and its leader Minister Louis Farrakhan.

And in 2021, Rizza really hit the big time, being named as one of the twelve biggest sources of online disinformation about vaccines, at a time when that kind of disinformation was literally killing some people during a worldwide pandemic.

What a mix this story was: Medical fraud charges, Scientology, the Nation of Islam, sovereign citizen craziness in court, and even the notoriety of a major anti-vaxx disinformation campaign.

And it has always mystified us why, over the last seven years, not a single word about any of this has showed up in the Los Angeles Times, even though it’s taking place in that city.

Well, whatever. We’ll keep it to our ourselves if we must. Anyway, we have now obtained some court documents showing that on July 14, Rizza’s two older sisters, Nimat (45) and Zakiyah (40), entered “no contest” pleas which, it was explained to them, the court would consider guilty pleas. Nimat was allowed to plead to a misdemeanor and will, in a year, have the case dropped against her entirely if she keeps out of trouble. Zakiyah pleaded no contest to a felony and was sentenced to 150 hours of community service, but if she too steers clear of trouble, in a year she will be allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor.

So with Hanan deceased and the two sisters out of the case, that leaves only Rizza, 32.

According to the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing, Rizza’s role was to organize writers who were hired to produce fake reports about drug counseling that never happened. Those reports were then submitted to Medi-Cal for reimbursement.

Previously scheduled for August 22, a “readiness hearing” for Rizza has been moved to August 25. According to one source we consulted, a readiness hearing is held only a week or two before an actual trial would start.

Will the flamboyant Nation of Islam huckster really be facing trial soon so many years after being accused of stealing medical insurance money from the state? We are very curious to find out.

 
In other legal news, the Australian plaintiffs suing Scientology in a new labor trafficking lawsuit in Tampa — Valeska Paris and Gawain and Laura Baxter — were given additional time to try and serve the lawsuit to Scientology leader David Miscavige, but not as much time as they were asking for.

Neil Glazer, attorney for Valeska and the Baxters, had spelled out the efforts they have been making since the lawsuit was filed April 28 to try and find and serve Miscavige, and they asked to have until October 26 to get the job done.

Judge Thomas Barber has given them until September 12.

Anyone know where C.O.B. is hanging out?

 
Another legal item we thought you’d want to hear: When Middletown, New York chiropractor (and Scientology donor) Jay Spina began serving his 9-year prison sentence for ripping off Medicare, he had promised to pay restitution of about $9.7 million. Since he went away, however, Spina has only come up with $150 of it and hasn’t been making regular payments, as he agreed.

So, Judge Kenneth Karas has approved the garnishing of Spina’s retirement accounts. Well, that’s gotta hurt.

Still no word, however, on when Jay’s brother Jeff is going to face sentencing.

 
And last, sadly, is TMZ’s report yesterday that Eddie Deezen has been found incompetent to stand trial in Maryland. Three months ago, we were first with the news that the Grease actor and Scientology celebrity had been committed to the Maryland Department of Health after his most recent scrape with the law.

His behavior had become more erratic, and this time he was accused of breaking into a nursing home and acting delusional. Again, we hope Eddie can overcome his Scientology training and accept help from the mental health professionals where he’s being held.

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“NEVER tell a pc what is physically wrong with him. If you suspect something is physically wrong that some known physical treatment might cure send the pc for a physical check-up just to be safe. In the field of healing by mental or spiritual means, the pc is sick because he or she has had a series of considerations about being sick. Deformity or illness, according to the tenets of mental healing, traces back to mentally created or re-created masses, engrams or ideas which can be either de-stimulated or erased completely. Destimulation results in a temporary recovery for an indefinite period (which is nonetheless a recovery). Erasure results in permanent recovery.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1964

 
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Now available: Bonus for our supporters

Episode 7 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers, and it’s a conversation with Geoff Levin about Scientology’s celebrities and which ones are most likely to defect. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 6 available to everyone, with Pete Griffiths on running a mission, Sunny Pereira dishing secrets of Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre, Bruce Hines on the crazy life in the Sea Org, Jeffrey Augustine on recent Scientology court cases, Claire Headley exposing Tom Cruise, and Marc Headley on what it must be like for David Miscavige living in Clearwater, Florida. Go here to get the episodes!

 
——————–

Source Code

“Ninth of August? What planet? Nine August, AD 12….You are Scientologists. You are scientists. You are people who can do things with the human mind. You practically — this small confine here — practically all the people on Earth who are experts on the subject are confined at this moment in this very small area. See? All right. The trick is from my viewpoint, to get somebody who can clear somebody else while being cleared, see, that’s the stunt. Otherwise nothing else works. Not on this planet, you see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 9, 1962

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“The UK ban is about to come off we hear by rumour. The Adelaide Aust ban bill is cancelled. The GPO lets us mail at bulk rates again in the US. I think we’ve even found the bug in the TR Course length! So here on Flag the few of us, on long, long lines, are working like mad, short-handed but rolling it out. We ARE very upstat. When you feel critical, just realize it’s a wish to do more better faster. For these 3 small orgs to handle what they’re handling is itself an epic. The thing legends are made of. The lowest downstat amongst us would be a king in any other culture than Flag.” — The Commodore, August 9, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Don’t think for a minute that the tech of Scientology and Dianetics doesn’t work. Too much energy was used by the US Government to stop it, so it must have worked its miracles as advertised. Imagine the meeting at the AMA. ‘So Doctor Scalpel, you read this book by Hubbard, do we have anything to worry about?’ The doctor replies, ‘I see a great danger with this book and we need to suppress it now, while we have a chance. I used some of its technology and it does rid people of illnesses with simple applications. This will cost us hundreds of millions of dollars.’ And so it went. Why else would the government spend so much energy on stopping us?”

Past is Prologue

1995: Grady Ward reported two violations of his privacy by Scientology investigators this week. “Mr. Waterman [with Pacific Bell] said that although the person did not have the code that I put on my phone bill (after warning from Jeff), he had other details of my life such as social security number, mother’s maiden name, previous phone bills, etc. etc. and said that he had recently suffered a stroke and couldn’t remember the code. After he started getting extremely abusive, Mr Waterman gave him the details of the bill. After hearing the news from Pacific Bell of a person lying to get access to my account information, I contacted my long distance carrier, AT&T and found, not to my surprise, that someone called ‘Grady Ward’ who had just undergone ‘eye surgery’ had required the operators to read off the last three months of my AT&T long distance bills for [two phone numbers]. According to Pat with Team 5 at the Mesa, AZ AT&T account services, the impersonator called earlier this PM. Pat said that I had no code on my accounts (I did and had earlier verified it as I did with Pacific Bell). AT&T suggested I put an ‘L’ code on my local carrier bill that supposedly would require *written* authorization before releasing my records.”

 
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Random Howdy

“The ultimate goal of becoming an Operating Thetan is that you would no longer need a MEST body and you could return to being an all powerful, immortal non-corporeal being. OT 8 is actually the first ‘real’ Operating Thetan level. Hubbard croaked, so everybody’s screwed. Thetans are immortal. Mesty meat bodies, no.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11, pretrial conference August 17.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.

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 filing amended complaint on August 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 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, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— 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.

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?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 13: Communicating with anyone on any subject
[TWO years ago] Leaked Video: Scientology’s anti-psychiatry front talks strategy with psych professor
[THREE years ago] TOM CRUISE CAUGHT ON TAPE: Saving face after a Scientology disaster
[FOUR years ago] Why Scientology is a haven for sexual abusers — it’s the way L. Ron Hubbard designed it
[FIVE years ago] Hey, moneybags, Scientology has a bridge to sell you. Here’s the new price list!
[SIX years ago] The dapper CEO’s detailed response: Scientology wasn’t forced on disgruntled employee
[SEVEN years ago] Why no one should ever believe anything said by Scientology Sea Org or staff members
[EIGHT years ago] Jon Atack: Escaping the trap Scientology sets for the mind
[NINE years ago] PZ Myers Helps Us Plunder the Riches of L. Ron Hubbard’s Book of Scientology Evolution!
[ELEVEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 24: David Touretzky

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 9, 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

Alex Jones admitted that he was envious. On August 3, the guest on his Infowars program was Rizza Islam, who, we told you earlier, had been named one of the 12 biggest sources of online disinformation about vaccines.

“I’m a little jealous here because I didn’t get on [...]]]>

Alex Jones admitted that he was envious. On August 3, the guest on his Infowars program was Rizza Islam, who, we told you earlier, had been named one of the 12 biggest sources of online disinformation about vaccines.

“I’m a little jealous here because I didn’t get on this hit list of twelve. I’m a little bit upset here,” Jones told Rizza during the broadcast, explaining why he’d been asking to have Rizza on the show.

In the segment, Jones and Islam both took it as gospel that the Covid-19 vaccines have been “proven” to be killing the people taking it, and the only question was whether this was actually the work of Satan himself.

Alex Jones: Now we’re being told we’re all dirty and have a virus. We’re being told we’re all — none of us that won’t take this shot — we’re all the devil now, but really that’s the devil saying that?

Rizza Islam: Absolutely. Of course, I mean, he comes dressed as an angel of light, and so as that devil they have to come before the people making it seem as if they care about the people. And my question is, if you care so much about the people why are you still putting poison in the air? Why are you still putting poison in the food? Why are you still putting poison in the water? Why are you still putting poison specifically in all the inner-city communities where Black and poor people live that create these pre-existing conditions that then this virus then helps to exacerbate and then helps people to die and kill over? If you truly care about us why don’t you put organic food, why don’t you remove the chemicals from the air, why don’t you remove the chemicals from the water. If you truly care about human beings, but they are damnable liars and their lives have not been…

Advertisement

Jones: Well, that’s the thing. The UN, the globalist Planned Parenthood all say there’s too many people, get rid of them, and then oh, please, take this shot, I love you.

Islam: No, it’s really insane. It’s actually insulting now because they believe that we don’t understand that we are too stupid to pay attention.

We’ve been following Rizza Islam’s antics for years now, and we have to give him credit that he continues to get a larger and larger audience and, at least according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate that put him on the list of 12 influential liars, is now doing real damage, particularly in the African-American community.

And he’s managing to do that while he’s still awaiting trial on felony fraud charges in Los Angeles, a case we first broke the news about back in 2015. Rizza, along with his mother Hanan Islam, has not only been charged with running a scam out of a Scientology drug rehab that stole about $4 million from the state of California, but the two of them were also jailed briefly when they tried to pull some sovereign citizen nonsense to disrupt their criminal prosecution.

The details of the crime are stunning, which we learned when a preliminary hearing was held and state investigators revealed that the Islams (including two of Rizza’s sisters) had used local unwitting high school students, supplied by three local educators (who all lost their jobs over it), in order to supply bogus claims to the Medi-Cal system, as if the kids were going through drug rehab counseling when they really weren’t.

The court called it a sophisticated and serious scam, and the Islams were bound over for trial, but the case keeps being pushed back and back, allowing Rizza Islam to keep working on his career as a disinformation merchant.

And yet, despite all that, despite the fact that Rizza Islam has turned out to be a true menace with vaccine disinformation (at a time when vaccine disinfo is literally killing people during a pandemic), and while awaiting trial on felony charges in a sophisticated scam that used a Scientology center to rip off $4 million, despite all that, the Los Angeles Times has yet to write a single word about Rizza Islam.

We can guarantee you that part of the reason the criminal case has crawled so slowly through the Los Angeles Superior Court system is that it is getting no attention from the Times.

How many people need to die from disinformation about vaccines before the Times pays attention to the menace in its own backyard?

 
——————–

Source Code

“You all dead today — I mean, all alive today? Twenty-third, huh? 23 August, AD 11. Well, I’m glad you made it. I didn’t think you’d ever get to August the 23rd. Back there in the Roman Empire I was damn sure you wouldn’t get here! And I remember one space-opera society when I didn’t think it was very probable that you’d make it. I remember standing there at the edge of the spaceport as the battle planes took off, and I said, ‘Well, they won’t make it.’ I knew, you see, I knew the high command hadn’t given you any ammunition.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 23, 1961

Avast, Ye Mateys

“Tech is the theta thrust into the society. All new civilizations progressed on new technology. In the main we face what is called a ‘cultural lag.’ The mental health field is stuck about 1450 AD. Dungeons, torture, illegal seizure, the ‘best’ people. We are rolling at about 2050 AD. This time gap makes it nearly impossible for the society’s witch doctors (untrained in logic or mathematics) to grasp what is going on. They lack even a purpose to make anyone well. Not even up to that. So we are impeded by a ‘cultural lag.’ By tying a bridge to medicine and healing we can overcome this to some degree. Therefore the Standard Dianetics Programme was an enormous advance for us, not just in tech but in social advance. So we are doing very well really.” — The Commodore, August 23, 1969

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“You can still be subject to the engrams of beings you have not released yet. This can be very frightening to those who have been assured they are engram-free by reason of their being a Clear or an OT. You experience a wonderful state of release and then, months or years later, you are sitting in a restaurant and the space-age uniforms of the waitresses set you into violent restimulation. Or, you buy a new brand of lox from a neighborhood market and you go into spasms at the first bite because it turns on someone’s incident of being forced to eat raw human flesh. These unfortunate experiences are a result of being on a prison planet that is chock full of tortured beings. You have many beings who have been with you for years and have acted like trusted companions and when one of them goes berserk because of some unexpected stimulus, you can spot the earlier incident in minutes and calm things down. After all, it is their incident, not yours, and knowing this you can take the steps needed to free the being from the incident they are still trapped in. Generally, spotting the incident and what occurred will free the being immediately, but you must be able to stay in present time in order to do this. If you think it is your incident, you may go out of present time and experience the incident yourself. There is no amount of processing that will keep you free from experiencing other being’s engrams if they are close to you. If you are recruiting beings to help you and working in harmony with them, you are knowingly operating in present time and are able to help each other when someone gets restimulated.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2001: Le Parisien reported that a Scientologist in Stains, France is charged with killing his mother with a fork. “Thierry’s relatives want to understand. To understand what pulled this 30 years old man to kill his mother with a fork, giving her some 10 forks shots. The terrible family drama happened in Soisy sous Montmorency. The victim, 54, with large wounds and cuts on her face, couldn’t be saved. The author of this crazy action, who has been interned into the psychiatric hospital into Beaumont sur Oise, shall get a psychiatric expertise to determine if he was responsible for his acts. The relatives have found in his home important documents of the Church of Scientology, for instance L. Ron Hubbard’s book. Thierry has a magnetic card as a member of the International Association of Scientologists. It had a number on it, and expiration’s date was in June 27th, 2001. Marc discovered as well ten letters sent by the assassin to his mother during the last two months. In those, he was speaking of his cultic relations. In the beginning of the summer he was first sent to an institution after having ‘broken everything.’ Later, he had his first violent movements against his mother.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Scientology is like doing acid minus the fun.”

 
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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 hearing set for November 10. Trial tentatively scheduled for February.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference August 25 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Sept 9.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30, 2020 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology responded on June 25.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments scheduled for Oct 5.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing scheduled for Aug 23-27.

Concluded litigation:
— 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.

 
——————–

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.

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?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Half-million dollar man: Scientology donor gives pep talk in leaked video
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s obsession with kids and sex? Nick Lister has the receipts.
[THREE years ago] Why Colombia’s military was fertile territory for Scientology — and one general’s stunning role
[FOUR years ago] Scientology shows no sign of slowing down its use of religious visas for foreign labor
[FIVE years ago] Maybe the worst thing about Scientology: It turns you into L. Ron Hubbard
[SIX years ago] Chill EB joins the Sea Org — well, long enough to wish a happy birthday!
[SEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: How Scientology’s methods of manipulation stay with you after you leave
[EIGHT years ago] PR Director of Scientology’s Las Vegas Celebrity Center Arrested in Plot to Assassinate a Cop
[NINE years ago] (2012’s) Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, Nos. 17-20
[TEN years ago] Janet Reitman’s Inside Scientology: ‘The Print Reviews Have Been Really Positive’

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 23, 2021 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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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