Alanzo
Bardo Tulpa
From Reed Slatkin's affidavit naming Tony Hitchman, (the "journalist" who interviewed Hubbard in a film shot at Saint Hill, and who, it is said, became a Scientologist as a result of that interview) as his top salesman to vouch for him to other Scientologists:
Mr. Hitchman's Early Involvement with Slatkin's Ponzi Scheme
2. I have known Anthony Hitchman since the mid- 1970's. I met him in the
Los Angeles area when we were both involved in the Church of Scientology
("Church").
3. In about 1984, I began soliciting money from others ostensibly to invest
for them. I intended to run this "investment" scheme so that fellow members of
the Church could have funds available to purchase services from the Church. I
planned to take money from people, invest it, and have money available for the
withdrawal for Scientologists who needed money for Church services.
4. When I knew that many investments would not cover the withdrawals which
were requested, I began to cover the withdrawal requests with funds from new
"investors."
5. From the very beginning, I depended on Mr. Hitchman to ensure the
viability of my scheme. He, along with a few others, was to bring other,
"investors" to me, thus providing a flow of new money which could be used to pay
withdrawal requests made by other "investors."
6. Mr. Hitchman was aware of my Ponzi scheme from the beginning and helped
me plan and execute it. In about 1985, we discussed my scheme. We discussed
that I would need to cover withdrawals of old "investors" with the deposits of
new "investors."
7. We discussed the fact that I falsified records. I told "investors" that
funds were invested in certain securities when that was not true. I told Mr.
Hitchman that the statements I sent to my "investors" were false.
8. We also discussed how Mr. Hitchman would bring new "investors" to me. We
agreed that he would promote me to others as an effective investor. WE also
agreed that if Mr. Hitchman had his own money with me, it would make it easier
for him to convince other people to "invest with me. That way, he could assure
people that he also had money "at risk" with me.
9. In Exchange for Mr. Hitchman's assistance to establish and ensure the
continued viability of my Ponzi scheme, I agreed to pay him on a regular basis.
In 1986, I paid Mr. Hitchman about $6000 a month. By 1988, I was paying Mr.
Hitchman about $10,000 a month. My payments to him quickly exceeded the money
he "deposited" into my scheme. By no later than mid-1988, I had paid out to him
more than he has "deposited." By 1993, I paid Mr. Hitchman about $15,000 a
month. By 1999, I paid Mr. Hitchman about $20,000 a month.
10. Attached as Exhibit 1 are accurate copies of requests by Mr. Hitchman to
me for monthly payments during 1999, 2000, and 2001. Most of the requests are
for amounts over and above the normal monthly payments. Each of the documents
was received from Mr. Hitchman or his wife, Margaret (aka Peggy). I recognize
their handwriting because I have received many handwritten and/or signed
documents from them over a period of more than twenty years. I received the
requests by fax from the fax number Mr. Hitchman uses to send faxes.
11. Mr. Hitchman reported to me on a regular basis as to what he was doing
to try to get new "investors" into my scheme and also what he was doing to get
old "investors" to contribute new money.
12. Mr. Hitchman acted as an ambassador for me in connection with those
people he helped convince to give money to me. For example, he helped deal with
people who had concerns about investing with me. Mr. Hitchman also spoke with
persons who were upset with me because of delays in receiving a withdrawal or if
a person needed some extra money for the Church. On several occasions, I asked
Mr. Hitchman to talk to people out of attempting to withdraw money. Mr.
Hitchman reported back to me that he successfully achieved that goal.
Mr. Hitchman's Early Involvement with Slatkin's Ponzi Scheme
2. I have known Anthony Hitchman since the mid- 1970's. I met him in the
Los Angeles area when we were both involved in the Church of Scientology
("Church").
3. In about 1984, I began soliciting money from others ostensibly to invest
for them. I intended to run this "investment" scheme so that fellow members of
the Church could have funds available to purchase services from the Church. I
planned to take money from people, invest it, and have money available for the
withdrawal for Scientologists who needed money for Church services.
4. When I knew that many investments would not cover the withdrawals which
were requested, I began to cover the withdrawal requests with funds from new
"investors."
5. From the very beginning, I depended on Mr. Hitchman to ensure the
viability of my scheme. He, along with a few others, was to bring other,
"investors" to me, thus providing a flow of new money which could be used to pay
withdrawal requests made by other "investors."
6. Mr. Hitchman was aware of my Ponzi scheme from the beginning and helped
me plan and execute it. In about 1985, we discussed my scheme. We discussed
that I would need to cover withdrawals of old "investors" with the deposits of
new "investors."
7. We discussed the fact that I falsified records. I told "investors" that
funds were invested in certain securities when that was not true. I told Mr.
Hitchman that the statements I sent to my "investors" were false.
8. We also discussed how Mr. Hitchman would bring new "investors" to me. We
agreed that he would promote me to others as an effective investor. WE also
agreed that if Mr. Hitchman had his own money with me, it would make it easier
for him to convince other people to "invest with me. That way, he could assure
people that he also had money "at risk" with me.
9. In Exchange for Mr. Hitchman's assistance to establish and ensure the
continued viability of my Ponzi scheme, I agreed to pay him on a regular basis.
In 1986, I paid Mr. Hitchman about $6000 a month. By 1988, I was paying Mr.
Hitchman about $10,000 a month. My payments to him quickly exceeded the money
he "deposited" into my scheme. By no later than mid-1988, I had paid out to him
more than he has "deposited." By 1993, I paid Mr. Hitchman about $15,000 a
month. By 1999, I paid Mr. Hitchman about $20,000 a month.
10. Attached as Exhibit 1 are accurate copies of requests by Mr. Hitchman to
me for monthly payments during 1999, 2000, and 2001. Most of the requests are
for amounts over and above the normal monthly payments. Each of the documents
was received from Mr. Hitchman or his wife, Margaret (aka Peggy). I recognize
their handwriting because I have received many handwritten and/or signed
documents from them over a period of more than twenty years. I received the
requests by fax from the fax number Mr. Hitchman uses to send faxes.
11. Mr. Hitchman reported to me on a regular basis as to what he was doing
to try to get new "investors" into my scheme and also what he was doing to get
old "investors" to contribute new money.
12. Mr. Hitchman acted as an ambassador for me in connection with those
people he helped convince to give money to me. For example, he helped deal with
people who had concerns about investing with me. Mr. Hitchman also spoke with
persons who were upset with me because of delays in receiving a withdrawal or if
a person needed some extra money for the Church. On several occasions, I asked
Mr. Hitchman to talk to people out of attempting to withdraw money. Mr.
Hitchman reported back to me that he successfully achieved that goal.
