Tom Cruise’s legal problems are heating up. He is named in a a $250 million federal lawsuit against the Church of Scientology by former member (and vocal critic) Peter Letterese. The most interesting part of the suit is that it’s been filed under a RICO statute – which is a law that allows the government to go after and break up organized crime.

It’s important to note that the government isn’t indicting anyone under RICO, but that Letterese is using a provision in the RICO Act to file a civil lawsuit against the church and various high-ranking members. In order for the lawsuit not to be thrown out, Letterese will have to prove in court that the Church of Scientology really is a criminal organization under RICO – which isn’t that far fetched.

Ex-Scientologist Peter Letterese, a longtime critic of the church, filed suit in Southern District Court in Florida on July 15 alleging, among other things, that members of the church harassed him after he left.

In court papers provided to The News by investigator Paul Barresi, Letterese claims a member of the church phoned his lawyer at home, and when the lawyer’s wife answered, said he was her husband’s homosexual lover. Barresi, who has done investigative work on behalf of Cruise, tells us: “[Letterese] is just including a celebrity name to get attention.”

Letterese calls the church a “crime syndicate” and wants it broken up under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization law, just as the feds have broken up Mafia families.

He singles out Cruise, who’s made no secret of his religion, saying that Scientology head David Miscavage is “aided and abetted by the actions of Tom Cruise, his right-hand man for foreign and domestic promotion, as well as for foreign and domestic lobbying. He has assisted the syndicate in acquiring funds and [made] his own donations of money believed to be in the multiple tens of millions of dollars.”

[From the Daily News]

The civil suit provision allows an individual to go after the crime organization for treble damages. Which means that if he won, the judge or jury could award Letterese triple the amount of the actual damages. As an individual, this is his likely motivation, since his civil lawsuit can’t break up a criminal organization like a federal indictment.

Letterese had a lawsuit against the church thrown out earlier this month by the federal Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. That suit was over Scientology’s use of the book, “Effective Sales Closing Techniques,” – which Letterese bought the rights to after the author died. The suit was thrown out and he was fined $266,000.

Paul Barresi - the “investigator” who provided the papers and information to the Daily News – isn’t exactly the most reputable guy. He was deeply entrenched in the Anthony Pellicano case, used to act and direct porn, and is generally one hell of a shady guy. So anything he says should be taken with one big grain of salt.

The lawsuit is pretty interesting, and makes me wonder if it might make the federal government take a closer look at the church and their finances. They have a long history of committing criminal acts ranging from kidnapping to accusations of murder. I’m sure they wouldn’t appreciate having their finances leafed through by the government. And although it sounds complex, RICO charges are relatively easy to prove it court because they are about “patterns of behavior as opposed to criminal acts.” Most often those indicted end up pleading to lesser charges – since each RICO charge can lead to 20 years in prison.

It’ll be very interesting to see where this case goes, and what kind of information comes out about Scientology. It seems like the general consciousness has really been raised about this dangerous cult. Whereas before they were just some wackos to snicker at, the average person on the street is much more likely to have heard about the dangerous – and often criminal – side to this so-called “church.”

Additional research for this article came from Wikipedia.

Here’s a Scientology video that circulated on the net a few months ago. Just gives an idea as to the craziness.

Another embarrassing, mind-boggling Scientology video is circulating throughout the web, and this one is garnering attention not just for the ridiculous crap spewed by cult leader David Miscavige, but also because he makes up complete lies - like the assertion that Kimora Lee Simmons is a Scientologists and hands out their ridiculous propaganda book “Way to Happiness” in the “inner cities” of New Jersey and Los Angeles. Kimora is not only not a Scientologists, she had no idea her image was being used.

Kimora Lee Simmons — celebrity designer, ex-wife of Russell Simmons and great beauty — is not happy with Scientology.

On Thursday, we had to call her press person and inform her that Kimora is being featured in a new Scientology promotional video. The sect’s chief, David Miscavige, can be seen in the video telling followers that Simmons has been distributing the group’s “Way to Happiness” propaganda pamphlet in New Jersey and Los Angeles. He tells the gathering that to reach new recruits 12 to 18 years old, they can do better than Simmons, who “funnels booklets” in the aforementioned locales. On the screen behind him, Simmons’ face is shown.

Only one problem, though, Simmons’ publicist told me on Thursday while her client was traveling. “I’ve asked everyone,” said the flack. “Kimora is not a Scientologist. We have nothing to do with this.” Of course, Miscavige also claims support in the video for Scientology from Philips Electronics in Pakistan, Dell computers “all over Africa,” Coca-Cola Pakistan, 7-Eleven in Taiwan and Ecuador’s postal system. He says that 70 million people are reading or in possession of “Way to Happiness.”

[From Fox News via the Huffington Post]

I feel badly for Kimora. There are few things as embarrassing as being called a Scientologist. I would much rather have a sex tape scandal than a Scientology scandal. There are about 83 reasons I would never believe Kimora Lee Simmons could be a Scientologist. First off, everyone knows she’s a demanding, crazy diva. No way would she back down to anyone. Second, instinct tells me that she can - and would - squash Tom Cruise like a bug, just for the hell of it. I don’t want to go all Tyra Banks, but Kimora is one of the few women I would call fierce. Scientologists are crazy, and I normally have a pretty healthy fear of them. But in this case, they all better run, because you do not freaking mess with Kimora Lee Simmons.

Here’s the Scientology video that will probably result in Kimora lighting the Celebrity Centre on fire. While the crap about Kimora is around the six-minute mark, I urge you to watch the whole thing, if for nothing else than the laugh factor.