Fritz Springmeier

Fritz Artz Springmeier (also known as Viktor E. Schoff)[1] is an American right wing conspiracy theorist author, formerly a resident of Corbett, Oregon, who has written a number of books claiming that satanic forces are behind a move toward world domination by various families and organizations. He has described his goal as "exposing the New World Order agenda."[2][3]

Background

Springmeier grew up with his father, James E. Schoof, who worked for the United States Agency for International Development.[4] His work involved developing the agricultural needs of countries internationally, including the Balochistan Area.[4]

Conspiracy theories

Springmeier has written and self-published a number of books based on the subject of mind control. He has endorsed the existence of Project Monarch, an alleged CIA mind control project whose existence is based on the assertions of Cathy O'Brien.[5][6] Project Monarch, is not mentioned in reviews of MKULTRA, its alleged parent program. Because most MKULTRA records were deliberately destroyed in 1973 by order of then CIA Director Richard Helms, it has been difficult, if not impossible, for investigators to gain a complete understanding of the more than 150 individually funded research sub-projects sponsored by MKULTRA and related CIA programs.[7][8] In 1977, Richard Helms was convicted of failing to testify fully about the U.S. government's anti-government activities abroad and illegal surveillance domestically.[9]

Springmeier's early work, The Watchtower & the Masons, focuses on the relationship between Jehovah's Witnesses and Freemasonry. In this book he describes a relationship between Charles Taze Russell and the so-called "Eastern Establishment". Springmeier followed these links into Masonry and did a further examination of the Eastern establishment.

Criminal conviction

On January 31, 2002, Springmeier was indicted in the United States District Court in Portland, Oregon[10] in connection with an armed robbery. On February 12, 2003, he was found guilty of one count of armed bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2113(a) and (d) and one count of aiding and abetting in the use of a semi-automatic rifle during the commission of a felony in violation of 18 U.S.C § 924(c)(1).[11][12] In November 2003, he was sentenced to 51 months in prison on the armed robbery charge and 60 months on the aiding and abetting charge, fined $7,500, ordered to pay $6,488 in restitution, and assessed an additional $200.[13] Springmeier's conviction was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[14] He was imprisoned, and was released from federal prison on March 25, 2011.[15][16]

Selected works

References

  1. ↑ "Couple tied to separatist movement face drug-trafficking charges". Eugene Register-Guard. March 3, 2001. p. 2B. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  2. ↑ Redden, Jim. "FBI probes alleged threat to officer" Portland Tribune October 30, 2009
  3. ↑ Redden, Jim (Oct 30, 2009). "FBI probes alleged threat to officer". Portland Tribune (Portland, OR). Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Schoof, James E. (December 1991), Balochistan Area Development Project : Final Report, NY, NY: The United States Agency for International Development, retrieved 2014-03-10
  5. ↑ Barkun, Michael (2006). A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 76. ISBN 0-520-24812-0.
  6. ↑ Parfrey, Adam (1995). Cult Rapture. Portland, Oregon: Feral Press. p. 241. ISBN 0-922915-22-9.
  7. ↑ Walter H. Bowart (January 1971), Operation Mind Control, Dell Publishing
  8. ↑ John D. Marks (1979), The Search for the 'Manchurian Candidate': The CIA and Mind Control: The Secret History of the Behavioral Sciences (PDF), Penguin Books Ltd., retrieved 2013-10-27
  9. ↑ Christopher Marquis. "Richard Helms, Ex-C.I.A. Chief, Dies at 89". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  10. ↑ United States v. Bateman et al., case no. 3:02-cr-00024-RE, U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon (Portland Div.).
  11. ↑ Docket entry 105, Feb. 12, 2003, United States v. Bateman et al., case no. 3:02-cr-00024-RE, U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon (Portland Div.).
  12. ↑ "United States v. Springmeier, 254 F. Supp. 2d 1192 (D. Ore. 2003)".
  13. ↑ Docket entry 144, Nov. 14, 2003, United States v. Bateman et al., case no. 3:02-cr-00024-RE, U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon (Portland Div.).
  14. ↑ United States v. Springmeier, docket no. 03-30534, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Oct. 14, 2004).
  15. ↑ "Inmate Locator". bop.gov.
  16. ↑ Blejwas, Andrew; Griggs, Anthony; Potok, Mark (Summer 2005). "Almost 60 Terrorist Plots Uncovered in the U.S.". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2010-11-22.

External links