Fleecing The Faithful– Updates

(To read the full text of the report, click here.)

[Note: Some links in these reports from 1998-99 have expired.]

• • January 1998: A Friendly Letter Returns, With an Exclusive In-Depth Investigative Report:
  • A Tale of Two Scams:
  • Scam #1: The Productions Plus Scandal
  • Stranger than Fiction: The Weird Cast of Productions Plus
  • The Wall of Silence: Quaker, Church Officials Hide Negligence, Incompetence
  • Crazy Ideas: Double or Nothing
  • Deters: A Real-life Nightmare, and a Possible Vision
  • Down the Garden Path, Opening Pandora’s Box
  • Scam #2: Insuring a Quaker Disaster: — Philip Harmon Steals $30 Million, because: “Quakers Make Good Victims”
  • Phil Harmon’s Victims Speak
  • Quaker Insurance $$$ Scandal Update: Will An Ex-Superintendent be Indicted?
  • John Wesley’s Folly
    

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    Court Updates, Part 1: Priscilla Deters on Trial in Wichita & After
    

• February 24, 1998: Deters Trial Opens in Wichita
• February 25, 1998: Cherokee Quaker Church Money Used for “Ponzi” Fraud Scheme–Kansas Investigator
• February 26, 1998: Ex-Quaker Superintendent In Kansas Fraud Trial
• February 27, 1998: Wegner, Other Nazarene Churchmen Detail Frauds
• March 2, 1998: First Defense Witnesses Roughed Up by Prosecutors in Productions Plus Trial
• March 3, 1998: Witness Says Deters Money a “Covenant,” not an “Investment”
• March 4, 1998: Disputes Flare as Defense Completes Case
• March 5, 1998: Deters Trial–“Just a scam” or “Good faith”
• March 6, 1998: Deters Convicted
• March 13, 1998: Tough Deters Bail Conditions Set; Possible Future Indictments Seen
• May 22, 1998: Sentencing Update. Deters denied bail, ordered to begin her prison sentence immediately, pending appeal.
• July 23, 1999: Deters appeal of her conviction is denied by U. S. Tenth Circuit three-judge panel, without dissent
• January 11, 2008—Deters released by U. S. Bureau of Prisons.
• August 14, 2009: Priscilla Deters visits a California Senior Center
• https://afriendlyletter.com/files/aflrogues1.html
  

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Court Updates, Part 2: Phil Harmon, Insurance Fraud & “Operation Island Scam”:

• • October 1997: Phil Harmon pleads guilty to fraud charges
  • May 4, 1998: Phil Harmon Sentenced to Serve Eight Years, Pay $16 Million; Prosecutors Promise More Indictments
  • July 1998: Phil Harmon reports to federal prison to begin eight year sentence.
  • September 3, 1998:  Another Plea in Harmon Case, Terry Beebe pleads guilty; More Charges may follow, Prosecutors Say.
  • October 1, 1999 —  Steve Harmon, son of Philip, Indicted on 8 counts of fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion; part of “Operation Island Scam” case.
  • May 8, 2000 — Terry Beebe is released by the U. S. Bureau of Prisons.
  • May 10, 2000–Steve Harmon pleads, will serve up to 18 months:

• • October 19, 2001 – Steve Harmon released by the U. S. Bureau of Prisons.
  • February 4, 2005 — Phil Harmon released by the U. S. Bureau of Prisons.

More: Rogues and Heroes — Photos from the Quaker Fraud Scandals

Online back issues of the print edition (1981-93) of  A Friendly Letter

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