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.]
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- 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
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
Court Updates, Part 2: Phil Harmon, Insurance Fraud & “Operation Island Scam”:
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- 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:
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- 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
I had blurry vision for a couple years and found it hard to read the newspaper and then an ophthalmologist at Mayo did a three-minute painless laser procedure and a few days later I could read the paper, no problem, clear as day, and also watch a ball game on TV and keep track of the triple as it caromed off the right field wall. 
