crimes
Scientology has a long, well-documented history of breaking the law.
More about crimes
Is Scientology breaking the law? There's evidence that they are.
Learn about allegations - and convictions - of criminal activity by Scientology organizations and executives.
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.
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.
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
Date |
Title |
Blurb |
Tags |
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November 11, 1983 |
Buono Convicted Of Three Additional Hillside Slayings |
(brief mention of Scientology) |
crimes |
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January 15, 1983 |
Religion Scientologist Faces Jail Term |
Boston Globe: Religion Scientologist Faces Jail Term |
crimes |
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January 15, 1983 |
Scientologist Faces Jail Term |
Mary Sue Hubbard, 51, wife of the founder of the Church of Scientology, is scheduled to begin serving a four-year federal prison sentence for her role in a conspiracy to burglarize federal buildings, following the failure of a series of appeals. She was the last of eight Scientologists to be sentenced in a 5-year-old case that grew out of efforts by church members to burglarize federal buildings and illegally obtain government records on the church. |
crimes, Guardian Office, Mary Sue Hubbard, Press |
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January 8, 1983 |
Scientology Spy Gets Four Years |
Miami Herald: Scientology Spy Gets Four Years |
crimes |
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January 8, 1983 |
Scientology founder's wife sentenced in conspiracy case |
San Francisco Chronicle: Scientology founder's wife sentenced in conspiracy case |
crimes |
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January 8, 1983 |
Wife of Scientology Founder Jailed |
Mary Sue Hubbard, whose husband founded the Church of Scientology, was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison for her role in directing a conspiracy to steal U.S. Government documents about the church. U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson also fined the wife of L. Ron Hubbard $10,000 after telling her she had committed "not only a serious but a heinous offence." The judge said she could not accept Mrs. Hubbard's contention that she had violated the law because she believed the federal Government was harassing the church. "Your crime cannot be excused for perceived harassment," the judge said. "I must consider how your crime has affected your fellow citizens." Ten others who were previously convicted for their roles in the church conspiracy have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to six years. |
crimes, Mary Sue Hubbard, Press, Washington DC |
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May 10, 1982 |
Sect to participate in hearing today? |
"During the hearing's first four days, 16 witnesses told stories that alleged the Church of Scientology is a world-wide operation that routinely engaged in covert criminal activity against government officials, ex-Scientologists and others considered 'enemies' of the sect." |
crimes |
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May 9, 1982 |
Witnesses tell of break-ins, conspiracy |
"In a story of international intrigue, a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology testified Saturday about a worldwide sect network involving infiltrations, conspiracies and smuggling." |
crimes |
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May 7, 1982 |
Father Teaches Followers To Commit Crime, Son Says |
Miami Herald: Father Teaches Followers To Commit Crime, Son Says |
crimes |
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April 20, 1982 |
Scientology Founder's Wife Loses Final High Court Plea, Faces Prison |
The Supreme Court let stand the convictions of two former leaders of the Church of Scientology, rejecting their final efforts to contest the legality of the FBI's search of the church's Los Angeles offices in 1977. The court's action apparently clears the way for Mary Sue Hubbard - the one-time "controller" for the church group and wife of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who was not charged in the case - to begin serving a five-year prison term on a conspiracy charge. |
crimes, IRS, lawsuits, Mary Sue Hubbard, Press |
crimes in the News
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Date |
Title |
Blurb |
Tags |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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