Teletype: FBI Director to All SACs, All Legats re: SITOL (July 14, 1977)

THIS CASE INVOLVES ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF NUMEROUS FEDERAL CRIMINAL STATUTES BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDING CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY AND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LEADERS OF THAT ORGANIZATION. SEARCH WARRANTS WERE EXECUTED AT THE PROPERTIES OF THE ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON, D. C., AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AREAS ON JULY 8, 1977.

EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO D. 8. GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES WERE SEIZED.

THE FOUNDING CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY IS INTERNATIONAL IN SCOPE. THE EXECUTION OF SEARCH WARRANTS IN WASHINGTON, D. C., AND LOS ANGELES AREAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE BY THE MEDIA, AND THIS CASE IS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.

THIS CASE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A BUREAU SPECIAL ON A NEED-TO-KNOW BASIS AND ASSIGNED THE CODE NAME SITOL. MAIN FILE AND SERIALS IN THIS INVESTIGATION ARE TO BE UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF THE SAC AND LEGAT OR HIS DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE AND MAINTAINED IN A SECURE AREA. […]