crimes

Scientology has a long, well-documented history of breaking the law.

More about crimes

Scientology's Crimes

Learn about allegations - and convictions - of criminal activity by Scientology organizations and executives.

Is Scientology Breaking the Law?

Is Scientology breaking the law? There's evidence that they are.

Guardian Office Memo Requests Update on Stealing Department of Justice Files

October 3, 1975: A Guardian's Office memo is sent to Richard Weigand requesting a compliance report on target 17 of GO 1361. (Target 17 directed the infiltration and theft of files relating to Scientology from the Tax Division or the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.) Weigand added a handwritten note to the memo that target 17 "is almost done" in Washington DC, but that six more weeks would be needed to complete the target at the Justice Department in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Police - Public Statement Regarding Eugene Ingram's Wiretapping

April 23, 1985: A public announcement by Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates disavowing any cooperation with Eugene Ingram, longtime Scientology agent, who claimed to have obtained a letter from the LAPD authorizing Ingram to eavesdrop on others.

Affidavit of Margery Wakefield

April 13, 1990: Testimony tells the story of her experiences in Scientology.">Margery Wakefield's affidavit describes illicit activities, hearing plans to murder individuals, and false imprisonment by the Church of Scientology.

crimes in the News

Datesort icon Title Blurb Tags
September 22, 1990 Church to Stand Trial The Church of Scientology of Toronto and nine of its members have been ordered to stand trial in a marathon case that began with the seizure of documents in a police raid in 1983. The church and the nine members will stand trial on 11 counts of theft and breach of trust after a preliminary hearing that lasted more than two years. crimes, lawsuits, Toronto
June 24, 1990 Los Angeles Times: Burglaries and Lies Paved a Path to Prison A web of criminal conspiracy to discredit the church's foes resulted in prison sentences for 11 top-ranking Scientologists. crimes, harassment, Los Angeles, CA, Mary Sue Hubbard, Press
January 13, 1990 Captivity Case May be Tied to Faith Pomona police said they are investigating whether beliefs espoused by the Church of Scientology led a family to confine a mentally disabled woman in a cell-like bedroom at a Phillips Ranch house. While stressing that neither the church nor its beliefs are under investigation, police said they want to know if Scientology practices could explain why the woman was kept in confinement. crimes, Los Angeles, Press, teachings and beliefs
April 21, 1989 Scientologists Lose Privacy Appeal Scientology lost another round in a long-running legal effort to keep religious confessions out of the hands of police and prosecutors. The issue arose when Ontario Provincial Police, acting on warrants alleging possible tax fraud, raided the Toronto premises of the church and the home of one member in 1983, seizing more than 850 boxes of material including files, books, correspondence and other documents. crimes, lawsuits, Press, Toronto
March 29, 1989 75 Scientologists Go On Trial Today Seventy-five members of the Church of Scientology's Italian operation go before a Milan court to face a long list of charges ranging from fraud, extortion and tax evasion to the illegal practice of medicine and taking advantage of incapacitated people. crimes, Press
December 27, 1988 Scientology: Still The Same Revenues and taxes are only two of the many issues that make Floridians uneasy about the secretive organization with headquarters in Clearwater's massive Fort Harrison Hotel. Over the years the Scientologists have been charged with a variety of bizarre crimes. In Canada, for instance, federal authorities are bringing the sect to trial for stealing 2,000 government documents. In Spain, 11 Scientologists are out on bail, facing the possibility of charges that include coercion and fraud. Clearwater, crimes, Gabe Cazares, Press, Scientology and Society, taxes
December 13, 1988 Church of Scientology Must Bow To Consumer Law The Church of Scientology can't hide behind the statement that it is a religion when it faces an aggrieved consumer in court, the Quebec Consumer Protection Bureau said yesterday. A Quebec Court judge in Quebec City last week fined the church $500 for failing to reimburse Jacques Dion of Quebec City within 10 days of his demand for a refund of money he paid for personal-growth courses. crimes, Montreal
November 25, 1988 Scientology Leader Imprisoned In Spain Philadelphia Daily News : Scientology Leader Imprisoned In Spain crimes
November 24, 1988 Church Leader Jailed (brief mention of Scientology) crimes
November 24, 1988 Scientology Leader Sent to Jail in Spain A judge in Spain ordered the head of the Church of Scientology International jailed Wednesday pending possible indictment on charges of fraud, criminal association and tax evasion. Judge Jose Maria Vazquez Honrubia said it will be at least a week before Heber Jentzsch of Los Angeles sees a second judge about setting bail. He said Jentzsch was being sent to a prison outside Madrid. The judge said authorities had frozen $1.76 million in bank accounts belonging to officials of the U.S.-based Church of Scientology and the church's drug rehabilitation program, Narconon. crimes, Heber Jentzsch, Madrid, Narconon, Press

crimes in the News

Date Titlesort icon Blurb Tags
September 30, 1996 Patrice Vic Trial Begins - Scientology Executive Charged with Manslaughter Trial begins in the death of Patrice Vic. Scientology executive Jean-Jacques Mazier is charged with manslaughter, and 22 other Scientologists also face charges. crimes, deaths, France, Patrice Vic, Press
April 13, 1990 Affidavit of Margery Wakefield Testimony tells the story of her experiences in Scientology.">Margery Wakefield's affidavit describes illicit activities, hearing plans to murder individuals, and false imprisonment by the Church of Scientology. crimes, Documents, false imprisonment, Margery Wakefield
April 23, 1985 Los Angeles Police - Public Statement Regarding Eugene Ingram's Wiretapping A public announcement by Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates disavowing any cooperation with Eugene Ingram, longtime Scientology agent, who claimed to have obtained a letter from the LAPD authorizing Ingram to eavesdrop on others. crimes, Documents, Eugene Ingram, harassment, Los Angeles, CA
August 3, 1980 Scientologist Elizabeth Eagleton Wiegand, Senator Eagleton, Stephen E. Poludniak, St. Louis. Libby Wiegand, $220,000, company;, Scientologist Elizabeth Eagleton Wiegand, niece of Senator Eagleton, and her attorney Stephen E. Poludniak are arrested and charged with extortion and conspiracy in St. Louis. Libby Wiegand had threatened to publicize embarassing information about the senator unless he purchased $220,000 of her stock in a family company; he refused to purchase the stock because he believed the money would go to Scientology. Although Scientology denied any involvement at the time, they later linked it to a Guardian's Office operation in their IRS Form 1023 declaration. crimes
October 6, 1979 Mary Sue Hubbard and 8 Other Scientology Executives Admit Massive Conspiracy Hubbard's wife Mary Sue and eight other Scientology executives signed a 282-page (plus exhibits) Stipulation of Evidence that detailed the government's case. That document details the burglaries, forgeries, conspiracies, to obstruct justice and other crimes committed. crimes, Guardian Office, Mary Sue Hubbard
October 6, 1976 Michael Meisner Moves to a Scientology-Rented Apartment; Coverup Continues Michael Meisner moves into an apartment at 444 South Burlington Street in Los Angeles. The apartment was rented by Paul Poulon (Collections Officer for the Information Bureau); the Guardian's Office wanted to reduce expenses and it was cheaper for Meisner to hide out in an apartment than in hotel rooms. Meisner spends most of his days at local libraries doing research on the security of government buildings, in order to support one of the cover-up stories, _viz._, that he had entered various government buildings to do an expose on the lack of security. Cinty Raymond and Meisner meet approximately twice a week to discuss the ongoing cover-up. crimes, Guardian Office, Los Angeles, CA, Michael Meisner
September 28, 1976 Mo Budlong writes to Richard Weigand, describing a plan for hiding Michael Meisner from his arrest warrant Mo Budlong writes to Richard Weigand, describing a plan for hiding Michael Meisner from his arrest warrant. This constitutes conspiracy, harboring a fugitive, and obstructing justice. crimes, Guardian Office, Michael Meisner
October 3, 1975 Guardian Office Memo Requests Update on Stealing Department of Justice Files A Guardian's Office memo is sent to Richard Weigand requesting a compliance report on target 17 of GO 1361. (Target 17 directed the infiltration and theft of files relating to Scientology from the Tax Division or the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.) Weigand added a handwritten note to the memo that target 17 "is almost done" in Washington DC, but that six more weeks would be needed to complete the target at the Justice Department in Los Angeles. crimes, Guardian Office, Richard Weigand, Washington DC
September 21, 1975 Scientologists Commended for Breaking into Government Offices Gregory Willardson writes a CSW (Completed Staff Work) to Jane Kember and requests commendations and awards for various staff members who had been involved in executing GO 1361 (which directed breaking into government offices and stealing documents), including Cindy Raymond. crimes, Guardian Office, Jane Kember
October 10, 1972 Guardian's Office Weekly Report Directs Attacks on Paulette Cooper Scientology Guardian's Office Weekly Intelligent Report notes that Paulette Cooper is "still actively attacking Scientology" and lists three "handling" actions, including giving New York Scientologists orders to "attack her in as many ways as possible"; this item says that action has already been taken on "wide-scale exposure of PC's sex life." crimes, Guardian Office, harassment, New York, Paulette Cooper