Expanding Frontiers Research recently received a response to its FOIA appeal on FBI handling of records pertaining to dubious UFO contactee Daniel Fry. The DOJ Office of Information Policy (OIP) affirmed the Bureau action in processing the records provided, which include a rather lengthy and heavily redacted 1963 FBI memo. When the same memo was received in response to a FOIA request submitted on another Cold War era UFO figure, Lois Jessop, and reviewed by the National Archives, the document was provided nearly in full. This blogpost will explore the mechanics of the FOIA process in this specific case. The chain of events shows discrepancies in a FOIA system widely considered to be in severe need of reform. The case also provides examples of aspects of Cold War counterintelligence operations agencies tend to omit from public discourse (The thing is, though, desiring to omit circumstances from a constructed public narrative does not equate to qualifying the information as exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act). Most importantly, dissecting the case helps us understand nuance of the FOIA, how to more effectively submit requests for records, and what we might learn from the circumstances. FBI FOIA Process The FOIA process EFR typically experiences with the FBI begins with submitting a request via the FBI online portal. An acknowledgment of the request is then electronically issued by FBI, eventually followed by a final response. The final response might include information such as the number of responsive pages identified, what FOIA Exemptions were cited for withholding responsive material, and how many pages were provided. The final response might also include advising EFR of the existence of FBI file numbers potentially responsive to the request in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). That happens fairly regularly when seeking mid-20th century records. In such circumstances a FOIA request is then submitted to NARA for the corresponding FBI file numbers. Requests are filled in different time frames, depending on various conditions. So, after submitting a request to FBI, we often eventually receive an FBI final response with an explanation of records provided and/or file numbers of additional material at NARA. If a requester is not satisfied with the processing of a request, they may submit an appeal to a designated authority. In the case of the FBI, the appeal authority is the Department of Justice Office of Information Policy. FOIA researchers, including this writer, have pretty widely come to consider the appeal to often be a standard part of the process. “Always appeal,” as the saying goes. If a requester is not satisfied with the outcome of an appeal, the next option would be to take legal action by filing a lawsuit. Daniel Fry and Lois Jessop FOIA Requests EFR submitted a request to FBI for records on Daniel Fry in July 2025. Rather heavily redacted material was provided in November. As shown in the FBI response below, several exemptions related to privacy and law enforcement investigations were cited and 41 pages were reviewed. One page was fully withheld. EFR filed an appeal in December 2025 on the use of the FOIA Exemptions cited for the many redactions and omitted page. From the Sep. 30, 2026, response letter from OIP, explaining its ruling and defining the exemptions used by FBI to withhold records: Shortly after the Fry request was first submitted, a different request was filed to FBI in August 2025 on another mid-20th century UFO figure, Lois Jessop. FBI quickly advised of potentially responsive file numbers located at NARA and the records were promptly requested. It was not until after records were received from FBI on Fry and the appeal on the case was already submitted in December 2025 that EFR received FBI records responsive to Jessop from NARA in January 2026. Minimal redactions were applied to the Jessop records and no pages were withheld. An examination of the Jessop material revealed the inclusion of the same 1963 FBI memo as located in the Fry file. The document was almost fully released in response to Jessop, while in the Fry response it was heavily redacted with one page withheld in full. The Fry and Jessop requests arose out of examining FBI memos previously obtained by EFR through FOIA requests. The individuals were referenced in FBI records when a variety of UFO personalities were identified as informants or people of potential interest during the course of an FBI espionage investigation. The recent Fry appeal response and its affirmation of FBI action makes the FOIA case all the more interesting. The ruling indicates the FBI continued to apply redactions to a 60+ year old memo almost fully released in a different FOIA request. What's more, the DOJ Office of Information Policy supported the action. Obvious questions arise. What was withheld in the Fry request? How were exemptions specifically used? How did the OIP legal team interpret the redactions applied to the same FBI document we know NARA processed significantly differently? What was on the page withheld in full by FBI? Comparisons It should be noted that not only did OIP interpret FBI redactions to be properly applied, but that the memo was not even remanded for potential further release. Apparently, none of it was deemed to be even possibly excessively redacted or subject to reconsideration. So what kind of material was ruled properly withheld? A comparison of page one of the 1963 FBI memo, with the Fry response on the left and the Jessop response on the right: The FBI decision to withhold the name of Robert Stark and reference to an espionage investigation (in the case of the Fry request) necessitated significant continuing redactions. Stark and circumstances of the investigation are of course repeatedly referenced throughout the memo. The withholding of Stark and related documentation also made it difficult for EFR to discern the specific purposes of references made to Fry and the New York Saucer Information Bureau. Much of the material is virtually indecipherable. The response to the FOIA request on Jessop made the situation much clearer, which also emphasizes the importance of mining documents received in FOIA responses for subjects of follow-up requests. It was the persistence in requesting records on people referenced that led to obtaining a more discernable copy of the 1963 memo. Another comparison of pages shows the mail of Rose Foster, a contact of Stark, was monitored, as indicated below. The copy of the document released under the Jessop request, pictured beneath the Fry version, contains a redaction under FOIA Exemption b7d, which likely indicates withholding the identity of a confidential informant. Moreover, it is apparent the informant could surveil and access Stark's residence, as the memo references envelopes and stationery "observed" in Stark's rented room. This could be interpreted to reflect FBI tactics of the era that were later deemed excessive. An argument could be made the use of FOIA Exemptions pertaining to protections of privacy and law enforcement investigations (as were cited) may become applicable if criminal charges were never filed against Stark. It could be similarly argued that contacts of Stark might be properly protected from disclosure if doing so might call their reputations into question while they may have been guilty of no more than, for instance, having been an employer or acquaintance of Stark, and subsequently cooperating with FBI as instructed. The arguments become much less compelling, however, in light of the fact NARA did not interpret the material that way. The next comparison, below, brings FBI concern more into focus of Stark's potential involvement with a New York UFO group. FBI obtained the names of specific individuals connected to the organization's PO Box by consulting with the superintendent of a post office station. More indication a confidential informant was accessing Stark's room and reporting to FBI agents in the images below. Records redacted by FBI and affirmed by OIP during appeal, top, and the same passage processed by NARA, bottom: It is quite unclear why the condition of a room or the existence of a brown briefcase would be redacted under the exemptions cited. Such examples are many. The main thing trying to be expressed here are the questions that arise from the processing of the records, not the content of the specific records, implications of which have been previously shared and considered (see links at the end of this post). It was the recent OIP ruling on the Fry appeal that brought the FOIA processing issues to the forefront. Bureau aversion to further declassifying the material might be more about revealing how information was compiled than the content. The page that follows the above paragraph about contacts with an informant is the page deleted from the Fry response. The page fully withheld by FBI and affirmed on appeal by OIP yet obtained from the Jessop file with no redactions at all applied by NARA: One might reasonably question whether the Bureau was as concerned about properly protecting the privacy and reputations of Gunny Larsson and George Adamski as withholding the arguable violations of privacy taking place while compiling information about them. More intel gathered from Stark's room includes correspondence conducted with Daniel Fry and a list of articles attributed to Stark, per memo comparisons pictured below: Again, it is difficult to envision how OIP interpreted the exemptions could apply to the names of pseudoscience articles, even if suspected of having subversive agendas behind them. The seeming current overclassification may suggest that once upon a time a decision was made to redact the subject and nature of the investigation, Stark and espionage. Reasons for the withholding may have included the public disclosure of Stark would lead to topics better left undiscussed for a variety of reasons. If that was the case, the more recent challenges with transparency may be a matter of preferring if sleeping dogs keep snoring. Ultimately, however, the fact FBI historically has challenges with overreach does not in itself mean the premises of its investigations were always wrong. The Bureau may have failed to respect the rights of Robert Stark and his associates and Stark may have been exploiting the UFO genre for a variety of reasons that possibly included interests of a foreign adversary. The primary relevance may be what we learn from such cases and what the circumstances tell us about a bigger picture that continues to influence the public today. --------------------- Links: Search Results: '"New York Saucer Information Bureau"' - EFR NYSIB | Collection from Expanding Frontiers Research | 8 posts | Patreon Browse results of record requests, videos, exclusive collections and more at the EFR Patreon. Follow EFR on Bluesky.

Over 500 quality public records requests and resulting appeals have now been filed by Expanding Frontiers Research since its incorporation in August 2022. While the ever-increasing number of Freedom of Information Act requests indicate consistent advocacy of government transparency and accountability, it is nonetheless the case that the organization prioritizes quality over quantity. EFR does not wish to further burden an already inadequate federal FOIA process or strain the workload of sheriff departments or prosecutor offices that are often recipients of our requests. A core part of our work to conduct and promote effective public records requests involves assisting the public in properly submitting on point inquiries to the appropriate agencies, thus quality is a priority. Below are some of our most recent records obtained. Octopus Murders Recent fruits of our work include records pertaining to people and events surrounding Danny Casolaro and circumstances dubbed the Octopus Murders. Alison Godfrey Brandel facilitated the corresponding inaugural episode of the EFR Interactive Research Project with an exploration of the topic, and we continue to receive responsive records from various agencies. EFR began by obtaining previously released FBI records responsive to Danny Casolaro. A follow-up request remains pending for records not included in the FBI initial response. We then obtained FBI records on the Christic Institute, a controversial organization that provided legal representation to select individuals and was directed by Danny Sheehan, more recently an advocate of dubious UFO Disclosure figures. The FOIA request arose because Sheehan and the Christic Institute were involved with journalists central to themes investigated by Casolaro, and Sheehan was listed by Casolaro as a key subject of interest. Partial list of Casolaro's cast of characters, per FBI records obtained Most recently, FBI issued a response to our request on Alan Standorf, an NSA man who was a contact of Casolaro and the victim of a still unsolved murder in 1991. Although EFR was already in possession of the records provided by FBI, the response qualified additional records exist and EFR should advise FBI if we wish to have those records processed. EFR promptly followed up and requested the additional material. Requests have been submitted on other involved individuals, as well, so EFR anticipates receiving more material surrounding this sprawling case. Leon Festinger and Robert Sears An Anna Merlan article, exploring how researcher Thomas Kelly undercut the claims of Leon Festinger and company in their enduring When Prophecy Fails, led to EFR submitting a FOIA request on Festinger. Responsive FBI records indicate background checks were conducted on Festinger. Some researchers, including this writer, interpret the records further implicate Festinger and his project as recipients of CIA funding during the MKULTRA era. This led to requesting and obtaining FBI records on Robert Sears, a longtime contact and apparent mentor of Festinger as described in the Festinger FBI records. The two were psychologists who conducted behavior studies. Records indicate Sears was cleared for work as a government consultant during his academic career, among other items of potential interest. FBI advised of additional records in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration, which EFR obtained. The NARA records document a Cold War espionage investigation in which Sears and several Yale colleagues and their spouses were referenced. The material illustrates complexities of the era, along with nuances that may be surmised. Perusal of the records is recommended for those who wish to better understand the related cultural dynamics (which, in this writer's opinion, should be anyone interested in aspects of the mid-20th century United States, be it UFOs, the CIA, elected officials, etc.). Ramtha's School of Enlightenment Judith Darlene Hampton, who became Judy Zebra “J.Z.” Knight, claimed an ancient warrior appeared to her in her kitchen in 1977 and the rest is history. Knight parlayed the story into a cult empire that includes an 80-acre compound sporting a 12,000+ square-foot house in Yelm, Washington, known as Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. EFR obtained a substantial quantity of law enforcement records responsive to the school, as Knight is a virtual lightening rod for stories from the lightly amusing variety to the darkly exploitative. She has never been convicted of significant criminal activity associated with channeling Ramtha, though implicated repeatedly and accused of unbecoming behavior ranging from endangering followers to drunken racist rants. The latest Ramtha records come to us from the Thurston County (WA) Prosecutor's Office and pertain to the 1992 home invasion and murder of Joe Sumrall. A tipster implicated Knight and her followers to a police detective but no one was ever charged with the crime. Correspondence with the prosecutor's office arose as the result of submitting a 2025 records request to the county health department for a letter sent to the facility in 2012 by an MD. The document, obtained by EFR, showed how Dr. Brian Keay advised health officials of “evidence of decompensation” among Knight's followers. The request to the health department, in turn, arose from a request initially submitted to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office in 2023 for records responsive to Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. EFR subsequently obtained some 13 separate releases spanning two years, consisting of digital images, videos and reports documenting events that include murder, death from apparent malnutrition, and a variety of often violent circumstances involving Knight's following. The records are shared and described in a series of blogposts and the Expanding Frontiers Archive. Burning Man The most recently received FBI records on Burning Man indicate the Bureau collaborated with local law enforcement in 2010 as part of counter-terrorism operations. The Las Vegas FBI office conducted intelligence collection and worked with the Pershing County Sheriff's Office preceding and during Burning Man for reasons described as prevention of terrorist activities. Though concern has been expressed about potential law enforcement overreach, a 37-year-old Russian man, Vadim Kruglov, was murdered at 2025 Burning Man. The case remains ongoing as of this writing. Three more deaths occurred at the 2026 event, though none of them initially seem to involve nefarious activity. That makes six fatalities connected to Burning Man over the past four years. At least eleven people have died at the festival since it moved from San Francisco to the Nevada Black Rock Desert in 1990, according to USA Today. Dozens of digital images and reports responsive to Burning Man were obtained from the Pershing County Sheriff's Office. The material is available in the online Expanding Frontiers Archive.

It has already been an incredible month for Expanding Frontiers Research and we're not done yet! We will be recording the inaugural episode of the EFR Interactive Research Project on Wednesday, August 26. Read on to learn more. Interactive Research Project The EFR Interactive Research Project is a participant-driven series of periodic virtual meetings exploring alternating topics of public interest. Purposes include facilitating best research practices in ways that are practical and entertaining while audiences learn about topics of interest. Each topic will be announced prior to a scheduled Zoom discussion, giving attendees ample time to familiarize themselves if desired with material obtained through public records requests, archives, video and similar resources. Participants will then be encouraged to share their resulting interpretations and opinions during subsequent discussions, as the topic and resources are collectively considered. Each Zoom meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the EFR YouTube channel for public access. Netflix documentary The first meeting of the EFR Interactive Research Project will take place Wednesday, August 26 at 8pm Eastern Time, and will explore Danny Casolaro and the Octopus Murders. EFR is pleased to feature Alison Godfrey Brandel, who many will recognize from Wayward Sons Book Group, as lead facilitator of the inaugural meeting and topic. To receive a Zoom invitation to the EFR Interactive Research Project, simply drop this writer an email at jackbrewerblog at yahoo dot com and state you would like to receive the invitation. That will get you placed on the email list and all set to participate in the Zoom discussion. The Octopus Conspiracies The Octopus conspiracies cover a vast and sweeping set of circumstances and allegations that reach into upper levels of American politics. They are complicated by circumstances ranging from lack of evidence and unreliable narrators to actual crimes committed that may or may not have resulted in charges ever being leveled. The viewing of a four-part Netflix documentary, American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders, is recommended to develop a familiarity. Total run time is under four hours. The film focuses upon the late writer Danny Casolaro and his questionable contacts. Prior to his death (an official suicide that is a point of contention itself among researchers), Casolaro was investigating circumstances such as the October Surprise and misappropriated casino revenue by way of contacts including controversial convicted criminal Michael Riconosciuto. Suffice it to say there's a lot of moving parts. The Octopus conspiracies arguably serve as a template for the way verifiable circumstances may be mixed with unconfirmed allegations, then stirred into a reality-bending cocktail by sources that include career criminals, writers, filmmakers, journalists, government agencies, those with financial stakes and even elected officials. This complicated saga provides plenty of opportunity for sharpening research skills, in both professional and recreational capacities, and EFR is pleased to facilitate the circumstances. EFR eagerly looks forward to recording with Alison Godfrey Brandel on August 26. Discussion attendees are expected to include writer and filmmaker Adam Gorightly, whose research explores fascinating insights into not only the questionable world of Casolaro's contacts, but their overlap with Fred Crisman and dubious UFO narratives. Join us and/or stay tuned! Meanwhile, don't miss other August events from EFR, which have included: A video discussion of Erica Lukes and this writer considering the EFR four-year milestone The Politics of UFO Disclosure with Erica Lukes, Alison Godfrey Brandel, Tanner Boyle, and your host and author An EFR interview with Stephen Kinzer, bestselling author of such work as Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control And be sure to check out the EFR Patreon for more freely offered resources and material obtained this month through public records requests

EFR Executive Director Erica Lukes The month of August marks the four-year anniversary of Expanding Frontiers Research, and what a month we have in store! The month-long celebration kicks off with a Friday, August 7, 7pm EDT episode of UFO Classified. Join Erica Lukes live as she hosts this writer for a discussion on events of interest in the past, present and future. Expanding Frontiers Research has more FOIA material to share, files to add to the online archive, and exclusive videos, all for public benefit. Highlights of upcoming August events to follow the August 7 UFO Classified episode include: Expanding Frontiers Research explores politics and UFOs, particularly in the context of Disclosure movements, in an August video. Who are the relevant elected officials? What should the public know about the legislation and media coverage? Who are the "Disclosure entrepreneurs" and what are the agendas? This and much more considered by Erica Lukes, Alison Godfrey Brandel, Tanner F. Boyle and your host and author. Investigative journalist and bestselling author Stephen Kinzer will spend some time with EFR discussing his nonfiction book Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control. This renowned researcher of mid-20th century CIA personnel and operations provided statements at the recent MKULTRA congressional hearing and is certain to share insights of interest. But wait, there's more! EFR and this writer are excited to launch the Interactive Research Project, a participant-driven recreational research and discussion group. The group will meet periodically via Zoom to discuss predetermined topics of popular interest along with related public records and similar materials obtained by EFR. First topic up for the EFR Interactive Research Project is the Octopus Murders, as depicted in a Netflix documentary: An investigative journalist pursuing a political conspiracy is found dead in his hotel room. Alison Godfrey Brandel will lead the virtual discussion with assistance from this writer - and the entire group! Points for consideration will include the complex web of personalities involved, conspiracies inferred, and possible solutions to the implied puzzles, all while incorporating open-source information and FOIA records into the assessments. For more details and scheduling information, follow the EFR Patreon and follow EFR on Bluesky. Please consider joining our valued financial supporters by making a donation to our verified special anniversary GoFundMe campaign, Expanding Frontiers Research Celebrates Four-Year Milestone. Your generous donations assist with FOIA fees, video production, website maintenance and similar costs. Thank you for your consideration and interest. We look forward to seeing you at UFO Classified when the month-long celebration kicks off the evening of Friday, August 7!

Financial records obtained from Uintah County indicate it spent over $133,000 on the 2022 PhenomeCon while raising about $124,000 in revenue, compiling a reported debt of some $9,000 for sponsoring the paranormal-themed conference. The inaugural 2021 PhenomeCon likewise tallied over $74,000 in payouts while collecting about $59,000 in revenue, finishing some $15,000 in the hole. Expenses for the two conferences, confirmed to be sponsored by Uintah County, include tens of thousands of dollars in payments to dubious speakers and catered “VIP” meals in which unsupported rumors were spread of dangerous paranormal phenomena. Payouts also include workshops promoting such topics as Remote Viewing and payments for rental car reimbursements. During the 2022 PhenomeCon, payments issued for speaking engagements, consultation services, and appearances at events totaled over $60,000, while hotel chains were paid in excess of $10,000, according to the financial reports. Expanding Frontiers Research (EFR) obtained the information through public records requests submitted to the Uintah County offices of the Clerk-Auditor and Travel and Tourism. The requests were submitted as part of a joint effort between this writer and EFR Director Erica Lukes, who contributed substantial research to this article. Uintah County is home to the property in Utah known as Skinwalker Ranch, where unsubstantiated stories of spooky goings ons have been popularized by late night talk radio, cable television, and credulous books co-authored by fringe reporter George Knapp with former defense officials harboring unclear agendas. Many of the PhenomeCon speakers are associated with Skinwalker Ranch. The records obtained contain an entry from 2021 indicating $850 was paid to a law firm, apparently for trademark search and filing services. Further research indicated a “PhenomeCon” trademark was filed in 2021 and owned by Uintah County. Uintah County Travel and Tourism Director Lesha Coltharp confirmed during an Oct. 3 telephone call that PhenomeCon is a Uintah County-sponsored conference. Websites which advertised and collected payment to attend PhenomeCon, which carries the tagline, "We believe," did not as of this writing indicate Uintah County puts on the event. Coltharp and personnel from the Clerk-Auditor's office additionally verified interpretation of the financial records. The records indicate over $207,000 in funds were spent on the two PhenomeCon conferences at a combined loss of about $24,000. Perhaps even more significant is how the money was spent and that county government is involved at all. Disbursements recorded by the Uintah County offices of the Clerk-Auditor and Travel and Tourism include over $6,100 to George Knapp in 2021; over $5,100 in payments were recorded to Dr. Travis Taylor in 2021 and over $5,400 in combined payouts in 2022; $5,495 in payments were made in 2021 to Skinwalker Ranch superintendent Thomas Winterton's company, Dabato, LLC, and nearly $5,000 in payments were logged to Winterton in 2022. Lesha Coltharp credited Thomas Winterton with initially planning PhenomeCon with government officials. Additional PhenomeCon expenses include Dragon Security, also affiliated with Skinwalker Ranch, which was issued over $2,000 in payments in 2021 and over $5,000 in 2022. Scientist Erik Bard, yet another Skinwalker alumni, was issued over $2,000 in payments in 2021 and in excess of $2,700 in 2022. At the 2022 PhenomeCon, held Sep. 7-11 at the Uintah Conference Center in the county seat of Vernal, Christopher Duncan was allocated $960 for a Remote Viewing workshop. According to additional entries, he was paid another combined $1,500. Other 2022 events include a “Voices of Believers Dinner,” for which caterers were paid $4,200. The tab for a “Behind the Scenes Dinner with Skinwalker Ranch” weighed in at $7,351, while records indicate a combined $7,000 was paid to caterers for what were termed opening and closing receptions. Miscellaneous expenses include over $2,300 for tee shirts, over $850 for “PhenomeCon Pens,” and nearly $900 for “Candy for Speakers.” Lesha Coltharp defended the PhenomeCon financial losses and Uintah County's decision-making process, stating the conference brings some thousand tourists to the area. “It was a huge success,” she contended. “We had people attend from 38 states and four different countries and they were here for anywhere from five days to 14 days.” Attendees would praise the event, she added, saying it is above and beyond anything they get anywhere else in the country. “We bring in high caliber speakers so that it's the real deal.” Coltharp was advised EFR does not share her assessment of the caliber of speakers. She was further informed EFR has concerns when a county government facilitates spreading unverified claims about purported paranormal activity as perpetrated by PhenomeCon and speakers it pays and promotes. Dr. Travis Taylor is a consultant in the intelligence community and is employed at Radiance Technologies. He is also a cast member of the cable television show The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch. He publicly asserts mysterious and serious harm is subject to come to people associated with the property. At an event labeled a VIP lunch conducted during the 2022 PhenomeCon, Taylor stated a woman “ended up with a very dangerous form of cancer” as a result of an orb passing through her. He claimed the orb was linked to the ranch through the purported “hitchhiker phenomenon.” The hitchhiker phenomenon is an entirely unverified speculation that suggests people who encounter select paranormal phenomena become enmeshed with the phenomena, which accompanies them across potentially long distances and transfers to others with whom they interact. It should be noted the alleged paranormal phenomena to which Taylor refers has yet to be established to so much as exist, much less its associated hitchhiker effect. Nonetheless, Taylor further asserted during the PhenomeCon VIP lunch that former ranch owner Robert Bigelow “got rid of the place” because “he was convinced it killed his wife.” Multiple requests sent to Dr. Taylor to field questions for this article did not receive responses. Lesha Coltharp was advised of Taylor's statements and asked how it squares with tourism when a PhenomeCon speaker suggests Robert Bigelow's wife died as a result of Skinwalker Ranch. “I'm not sure of that and I didn't hear Dr. Taylor speak, so if I wasn't there and he had that claim, I don't know,” Coltharp responded. It was pointed out to the Travel and Tourism Director there are obvious concerns and breakdowns in logic when the ranch personnel and associates chronically assert the existence of some type of harmful contagion or toxic radiation, yet ignore responsibilities to report such circumstances to proper authorities. Such authorities might include environmental agencies or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental agencies would potentially conduct an investigation and subsequently implement a series of protocols if reports were deemed valid. While that is the case, rather than involve agencies and more effectively ensure public and personal safety, the narrative is used to promote tourism, up to advertising a PhenomeCon escorted trip to the ranch and using the story as a means to create income for speakers. Can she empathize with the concerns? “I guess that's not Tourism, that's not anything that we have a part of,” Coltharp offered in response. “Does that make sense? We're in it because we have over a thousand people who come here and stay in our hotels and eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores and buy our gas. That's why Tourism's involved – our economic impact of it – that's why we help facilitate the conference. That's why we're involved. We're not involved in any of the science part of it or anything like that.” It might be reasonably surmised Uintah County officials do not believe anyone is in danger from phenomena purported to menace Skinwalker Ranch or cause alleged hitchhiker horrors. One would otherwise have to account for why decisions are made by county government to financially sponsor the event. Specifically, it results in a reported thousand people per year visiting an area of Utah in which George Knapp and others who were paid to attend and speak maintain that poltergeist-like energies attach themselves to human beings, accompany them home, spread to others like a virus and – according to Travis Taylor – cause cancer. If government officials and community leaders sincerely believe those tales, they are arguably acting with substantial negligence to exploit the circumstances as a means to boost the local economy and create financial opportunities for PhenomeCon speakers and consultants. In contrast, if PhenomeCon sponsors and participants do not believe the tales, that raises a different - yet arguably equally important - series of ethical questions. Requests for comment were sent to the Uintah County Commissioners, seeking statements on their stances either opposing or supporting the County's policies on conducting and financially sponsoring PhenomeCon. A voicemail message was left for Commission Chairman Bart Haslem, requesting he clarify his position on PhenomeCon, as well as offer a statement on the safety of conference attendees and Uintah County tourists in general, given the assertions of Dr. Taylor and his fellow Secret of Skinwalker cast members and conference speakers. No responses were received from the County Commission as of this writing. Coltharp described how PhenomeCon began. “We were working with Skinwalker Ranch,” she explained. “So many people go over there to their ranch, over there to their gate, you know? And they wanted people to have some kind of experience - for guests - but they can't let anybody on the ranch because of their paranormal activity, right? So they kind of came up with an idea, 'Hey, what if we call it some kind of a conference where we, you know, are there and help support it?', and then, they had met with our City Manager and our Economic Development Director at the time and they came up with this idea, PhenomeCon. In the process of that, Blind Frog Ranch got involved, and then Russ with Expedition Bigfoot.” Expedition Bigfoot is another cable television show. It features Russell Acord, who Lesha Coltharp was apparently referencing. The Uintah County financial records pertaining to the 2021 PhenomeCon indicate Lorraine Acord was issued $1200. In 2022, records show she received seven payments of $500 each, totaling $3,500, between January and July. Russell Acord was paid eight installments of $500 each during the same period, plus additional payments totaling at least $2,585, bringing his personal grand total for 2022 PhenomeCon to no less than $6,585. He hunts Bigfoot on television. Requests for comment were sent to the office of Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion. He was asked to comment on if he supports Uintah County sponsoring PhenomeCon. The City Manager was also asked to clarify his position on the safety of conference attendees, given the statements of PhenomeCon speakers pertaining to alleged head injuries and the purported "hitchhiker phenomena" associated with supposed mysterious energies at Skinwalker Ranch. "I am on the organizing committee and assist with conference arrangements. I support the conference occurring in Vernal," Bennion wrote in an Oct. 19 email. He echoed points expressed by Coltharp about a thousand participants from 38 states and four countries, adding, "Phenomecon is a boost to the Vernal economy and tourism." "The conference does not facilitate or transport participants onto private property including Skinwalker Ranch," the City Manager continued, apparently implying tourists are guaranteed to remain out of harm's way as long as they don't go on the real estate parcel. "The add-on tour turns around at the gate." Bennion was asked in a follow-up email if it was fair to say he does not believe tourists are in any danger associated with alleged Skinwalker Ranch paranormal phenomena or "hitchhiker phenomena" as described at the 2022 PhenomeCon by Dr. Travis Taylor. He was provided a link to Taylor's related statements. Bennion was also asked, as a member of the organizing committee, to please summarize the process of how speakers and their amounts of compensation are selected. Some speakers were reportedly paid $300 while others received thousands for attendance at various events. Is there a call for proposals for potential speakers? Who makes these decisions and what are the decisions based on? "I am not qualified to respond about 'hitchhiker phenomena,'" Vernal City Manager Bennion emailed in response. He added that he was the committee host at the VIP lunch and did not hear Taylor's statements, which might be considered beside the point, given he was provided a link to a video clip containing the doctor's claims. "The organizing committee makes the decisions on speakers and compensation," Bennion briefly wrote, apparently opting to decline summarizing the process as was requested. He concluded he would not respond further to emails "unless you have an open records request to Vernal City." Lesha Coltharp explained the Skinwalker Ranch “casting crew” wanted to do some kind of conference, “so they could interact with the community.” She was asked, when she stated “they” wanted people to have some kind of experience and met with the City Manager and an economic developer, who specifically was she referencing? “Thomas Winterton. So he's from the Uintah Basin and so, yeah, he wanted to do something to help have an economic impact for the community.” As cited above, records indicate over $10,000 in combined payments were made from Uintah County offices to Thomas Winterton and his LLC for the 2021 and 2022 PhenomeCon conferences. This apparently includes payment in 2022 for appearances at the Behind the Scenes Dinner with Skinwalker Ranch and a VIP breakfast, as well as his involvement with an “Escorted Trip to Skinwalker Ranch.” Winterton publicly claims he sustained repeated head injuries, spanning many years, associated with inexplicable energies at the ranch. In spite of that being the case, he remarkably continues to apparently spend significant amounts of time at Skinwalker Ranch and encourages people to visit the surrounding area, seemingly including taking an escorted trip, or "add-on tour," as City Manager Bennion put it. Speculation about Havana Syndrome and its relationship to Uintah County is fueled by figures such as Dr. Garry Nolan of Stanford University. During a 2021 interview with Motherboard, Nolan directly described a victim of what he labeled Havana Syndrome at Skinwalker Ranch. The immunologist further asserted he and colleagues "can actually estimate the amount of energy required in the electromagnetic wave someone aimed at them." Researchers, presumably including Kit Green and he, think the alleged case at Skinwalker was perpetrated by some sort of state actor, Nolan explained. Nolan has to this point failed to adequately establish an electromagnetic wave was involved in the case at all, much less positively and intentionally aimed by anyone, state actor or otherwise. It should nonetheless not escape consideration that government officials and Skinwalker personnel apparently proceed with plans for conferences and activities while presumably aware of Nolan's allegations. It could be interpreted as difficult to think they believe there is danger, for whatever reasons. In addition to claims of mysterious injuries, Winterton, Taylor, and their fellow Secret of Skinwalker cast members, along with George Knapp and his co-authors, persist in suggesting the presence of some type of potentially toxic or harmful phenomena. The television show itself is widely known for its claims of measuring radiation levels which cast members identify as alarming. EFR filed several records requests with Utah and federal environmental agencies, namely, multiple offices of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. As of this writing, no evidence has been obtained that indicates such circumstances as asserted by promoters of the Skinwalker narrative were ever reported to proper authorities. As a matter of fact, in certain instances, it is evident they were not. EFR notified the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) of dates of injuries reportedly occurring in the vicinity of Skinwalker Ranch via a records request seeking material pertaining to the events and geographic location. The DEQ Division of Water Quality responded in an Oct. 14 email a search was conducted for incidents occurring on and within a mile-and-a-half of the property. One “environmental incident” was identified, a 2019 circumstance in which a truck hauling crude oil leaked an unknown quantity onto the surface of the road where the oil reportedly solidified in place with no waterways or soil impacted. A map of reported incidents, or primary lack thereof, on and surrounding Skinwalker Ranch as provided by the Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality: In addition to the Division of Water Quality, EFR queried the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality for records that might reflect incidents that populate the sensational Skinwalker Ranch narrative. A recently received response advised EFR of an allegation filed in 2020 to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission that was subsequently forwarded to the Utah DEQ in 2021. The allegation was authored by someone describing them self as a “concerned citizen” who believed there to be a uranium deposit on Skinwalker Ranch, causing “the majority of the health dangers that people are experiencing there.” The author of the message somewhat erratically went on to suggest an investigation should be secret, include people on the ranch, and findings should not be made public for national security reasons. “Unfortunately,” the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control explained in its Oct. 18 email response to EFR, “because the property is held by a private entity which has not sought the Division’s assistance for any incidents that may have occurred on-site, the Division has been unable to follow up on the allegation at this time.” It is clear that no Skinwalker Ranch personnel, television show cast members, production crew employees, public officials or anyone else directly or indirectly promoting claims of harmful phenomena inherent to the property have notified Waste Management and Radiation Control. A number of salient, yet unanswered, questions revolve around that fact. At a bare minimum, the concerns expressed in the allegation submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission do not reflect well on the people promoting the story for a living and for various financially motivated reasons, particularly if those people in actuality doubt the authenticity of the narrative. The allegation submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is shown below. The personal information of the submitter was withheld by the DEQ as stipulated in applicable Utah public records laws. A Freedom of Information Act request was submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the circumstances and remains open as of this writing. The apparent lack of ranch personnel documenting purported incidents with applicable agencies might be considered even more questionable in light of the fact Sen. Ronald Winterton, the reported father of Thomas Winterton, chaired the 2020 Utah House Health and Human Services Committee. A March 2020 memo to Committee members from the office of Sen. Winterton demonstrates the group explored legislation concerning health and human services, emergency medical services, and fatalities, among other issues, just apparently none that have anything to do with cancer-inducing contagions originating from Skinwalker Ranch and Uintah County. Thomas Winterton did not respond to several invitations to discuss his involvement with PhenomeCon for inclusion in this article. Prof. William F. Hall is a former Field Office Director at the Department of Justice, Community Relations Service Division. His professional career includes serving as a special assistant in the U.S. Senate to Sen. John Danforth (R-MO); in the Office of the Mayor in New York for Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Paul Gibson, Jr. (D-NYC); and as a member of the Chicago Mayoral Transition Team for Mayor-Elect, Harold L. Washington (D-IL). He earned degrees and conducted studies in political science, public policy, and social welfare. Prof. Hall is a longtime educator, currently serving Webster University and Washington University. He agreed to speak by phone about government ethics on Oct. 17. Should government sponsorship of a public event be overt and clearly posted? “Yes, it should,” Prof. Hall responded, adding that he recommends for further reference on such issues the National Association of Counties and the American Society for Public Administration. These organizations set industry standards and spell out specific guidelines on government ethics and transparency. Any citizen is entitled to information about the purposes, speakers employed, and other aspects of government activities. Information is made available to people who pay for the activities, Prof. Hall explained, which, in this case, is the taxpayer. “The National Association of Counties and the American Society for Public Administration both have codes of ethics and one of the most important components is the need to have business conducted in the public eye,” he continued. What responsibilities does a county government have in the validity of the stances the speakers take at the events it sponsors? There is typically a request for proposals in which a government body will seek services or, in this instance, speakers. The request for proposals should outline the parameters, the expectations, the qualifications – all of the things that you really need to have – to make an informed and intelligent decision on such matters, the professor explained. The process must of course be within the limits of the law, but sometimes ethical conflicts may be present that do not rise to the level of criminal culpability, yet could violate standards of morality or ethics, or some other benchmark, that governments should attempt to respect and observe. In a best-case scenario, public officials do not settle for mere compliance or trying to avoid breaking the law, but conduct their activities in ways that instill confidence in the public they serve. “In terms of speakers and their views,” Prof. Hall continued, “as far as I'm aware, there is no general prohibition against government agencies contracting with services or speakers that they may not necessarily agree with. I think part of the value of conferences often is being able to expose attendees to views that may be out of the box. Now, having said that, certainly I think there are lines that may be beyond the bounds or beyond the pale of reasonability, and that's when you get into a gray area.” Hall explained the National Association of Counties website references with its code of ethics a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” That speaks volumes, the professor emphasized. Something that may not necessarily violate the letter of the law, reasonable minds could ascertain violates the spirit of the law. That's where ethics come into play. Without seeing the specific calls for proposals and the specific county guidelines that dictate how speakers and service providers may be contracted, it would be impossible to offer an informed opinion, but the importance of the process can indeed be explored. It was explained to Hall that one of the compensated speakers was reportedly involved in the initial planning stages with county and city officials of what led to the two conferences. Was the professor suggesting a key aspect of the process was the procedure in which the county selected speakers and arrived at amounts of compensation? “I think that is the crux of the issue,” Prof. Hall replied. “Almost any code of ethics that I am familiar with, and I am familiar with many – in the codes of ethics of the National Association of Counties and American Society for Public Administration, for instances - a major component is there needs to be clear showing that no participant, no one who would vote or select a contractor, would have any 'skin in the game,' or benefit. A big red flag always flies when there is evidence that someone who is deciding also has some stake in the decision, either a monetary one or some other way that ultimately they may value. That is always a red flag, so in the process of selection there should be some evidence that great pains were taken to make sure that no one would be involved in the process that stands to gain anything of value.” Prof. William F. Hall Relevant questions might include 'Who were the stakeholders?' and 'Did anyone have a chance to influence the selection that might benefit through personal gain?'. “It doesn't necessarily have to mean money,” Prof. Hall continued, “it could also mean setting the stage for something down the road.” Is it different when a county government gets involved in the Bigfoot and UFO business as compared to a for-profit entity or an entertainment-based company? “I think that's a fair statement,” Prof. Hall responded, while emphasizing the importance of process and procedures. The specific wording of policies and codes adopted by a government administration must be reviewed to determine the extent its actions adhered to or varied from its guidelines. It's all about the process. “A major component of any code of ethics, particularly those that are on point with this particular situation, is the need to demonstrate integrity of the organization, agency or government,” he explained, “the need to adhere to the highest forms of conduct to inspire confidence and trust in public service. Any actions, behavior or decisions that do not enhance or support that integrity diminish the role of government and tend to make the public hesitant to feel their interests are being held to the highest standards. You get into the gray areas at your own peril because, after all, the main issue and goal in a federal system of government, where we disperse power among many different governments, is to advance the public interest.” That's the beauty and the strength of America, Prof. Hall emphasized and concluded. We don't have an authoritarian government at the top that makes all the decisions. We have many different governments with levels of responsibility, but the one constant in democracy, from federal to state to county and townships, is the need for government to advance the public interest.

A 1968 letter apparently written by Don Berliner described the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena as suffering from a lack of leadership, consisting of paid employees who were playing instead of working, and devolving to the point of being incapable of contributing significantly to the investigation of UFOs. Berliner explained to British ufologist Julian Hennessey how his protests escalated until he was ultimately fired by NICAP Director Donald Keyhoe. Don Berliner Keyhoe "has not investigated a case in some ten years," Berliner wrote. His real interest was his next book, Berliner asserted, adding that Keyhoe was withholding good cases from NICAP to include in the book. A disappointed Berliner further described watching the NICAP money dwindle and pushing for publication of Air Force Project Blue Book reports to increase income. He sold management on the idea and proceeded to present the necessary tools to Keyhoe, "who did absolutely nothing for two months," adding that the entire venture could have been set up in two weeks. The letter, apparently written on Don Berliner letterhead and signed by the investigator: The document was recently provided by writer, researcher, and former International Director of the Mutual UFO Network, James Carrion, along with some other NICAP material, all of which may be accessed in a folder on Google Drive. Carrion explained the source of the letter was the MUFON files. The additional material consists of two pdfs, one of which contains NICAP special bulletins and newspaper clippings. The second pdf contains 1979 MUFON Journals, the first of which includes NICAP apologist Todd Zechel's narrative on the alleged CIA sabotage of the UFO organization that supposedly led to its demise. The MUFON Journal provides an interesting snapshot of the era, as it was edited by former NICAP Assistant Director Richard Hall and included content submitted by longtime NICAP investigator Ann Druffel as the MUFON associate editor. NICAP was incorporated in 1956 under tumultuous circumstances involving substantial intelligence community assets. Its initial director soon departed, making way for Donald Keyhoe to take the helm for some 13 years. As documented in Wayward Sons: NICAP and the IC and subsequently explored by the Wayward Sons Book Group, Zechel's narrative dubiously credits almost certain CIA asset Nicolas de Rochefort with working himself into a key position with the organization. As the story is typically told in UFO circles, Keyhoe chased away the bad spooks while inviting the good ones, other than for the honest mistakes he supposedly made, such as trusting Joseph Bryan III. A closer review, however, shows de Rochefort actually negated his own appointment to a leadership role. Moreover, by deferring the recommendation that he become Executive Vice Chairman, it was none other than Nicolas de Rochefort himself who arguably assisted in clearing a path for Keyhoe to become the face of the organization. From a January 1957 NICAP Progress Report (see pp93-94): There are many such discrepancies and inaccuracies in not only Todd Zechel's version of events, but in the narratives popularly held within the UFO subculture about NICAP as well. It could be added that Mr. Zechel failed to address a number of additional connections to the intelligence community, which would include but by no means be limited to the relationships between T. Townsend Brown and Counsel Services officers Mary Vaughan King and former State Department man Thomas O'Keefe, a trio which incorporated NICAP; and career intelligence officer Albert Wedemeyer who served in an advisory capacity yet cited the publication of his name as a reason for his 1957 departure. It is this writer's contention the evidence available through archived records and the results of FOIA requests indicates the intelligence community was instrumental in many aspects of the life cycle of NICAP, likely including its very inception. Your author further asserts the praise often delegated to Donald Keyhoe as a competent investigator and transparency advocate is not fully justified. Keyhoe may have been most talented and effective as a public relations man, an expertise that does not always align with truth-seeking and transparency. A significant part of the material published by NICAP is arguably subpar and used claims of conducting scientific investigation as a dubious means of adding credibility to the otherwise unsubstantiated proclamations of extraterrestrial visitation and the orchestrated government cover-up thereof made by its leadership, often times including intelligence officers. Don Berliner is a former NICAP staffer turned independent investigator. He may be best known for his writing on the alleged Roswell UFO incident with Stanton Friedman. Berliner's work in the UFO genre includes serving on boards for the Fund for UFO Research and the Center for UFO Studies.

In December 2025, Expanding Frontiers Research made a public appeal for funds to assist with fees incurred from FOIA requests. This blogpost will provide an update of the status of requests described in December and provide links to records obtained. Over $500 was generously pledged by supporters in December. The total amount of payments allocated by EFR to the National Archives and Records Administration since then is $357.60. About $400 has been spent overall on public records requests during that time. Specific requests presented to donors in December involved the following subjects: Burning Man) Law enforcement records have been obtained from the Pershing County Sheriff's Office on the annual festival. The records were shared at the EFR Patreon, as well as in blogposts. A dedicated section of the EFR online archive was created to provide access to the Burning Man collection. We continue to await a final response to a FOIA request submitted to the FBI. Esalen Institute) FBI records responsive to the Esalen Institute, a California “holistic learning and retreat center” that dates back to the Cold War, were obtained from NARA in March and published at the EFR Patreon. A series of requests and appeals remain open and ongoing with FBI and State Department, of which readers will be promptly advised as we receive notifications. James E. McDonald) FBI records were obtained from NARA on the atmospheric physicist and UFO investigator. The records pertain to activities of McDonald and his wife, Betsy, and reflect community resentment of her political activism, which included helping young voters organize. The records and a growing digital folder of material pertaining to the McDonalds may be accessed at the EFR Patreon. For more information related to McDonald and family, readers may choose to browse the Ann Druffel Special Collection and view our blogpost, Daughter of UFO Researcher James McDonald Wrote UFO Psychology Thesis. Donald Menzel) NARA provided over 100 pages of FBI records requested and they were shared at the EFR Patreon. A master folder of records obtained on the late astronomer may also be accessed from the post. More material continues to be in processing, and an appeal of withheld records remains pending as of this writing. Nicolas de Rochefort speaks at Freedom Day, 1954 NICAP Personnel) A 206-page FBI file on NICAP organizer and almost certain CIA asset Nicolas de Rochefort was obtained from NARA and provided through the EFR Patreon. The EFR blog also contains information about the mysterious Frenchman who was a formidable lobbyist in the United States and was once the subject of a lawsuit filed on behalf of an investigative journalist seeking de Rochefort's CIA records. We continue to await NARA to complete the processing of FBI records responsive to former NICAP board member Joseph B. Hartranft. He was influential in the aviation community and instrumental in negotiations involving the dissolution of NICAP and the acquisition of its files by the Center for UFO Studies. New York Saucer Information Bureau) Significant records were obtained on the NYSIB, its personnel, and a foreign national who was the subject of an espionage investigation and a contact of the UFO group and well-known UFO personalities. The circumstances are described and records are shared in several blogposts, including The Robert Stark Espionage Case: The FBI Makes the UFO Connection, as well as the EFR Patreon NYSIB collection. Walter Bowart, aka Thomas Kirby) We continue to await NARA to finish processing the FBI records requested on the mid-20th century counterculturist. We likewise await final responses from NARA and FBI on records pertaining to Greenwich Village icons Tuli Kupferberg and Susan Elizabeth “Suze” Rotolo. Highlights of other records delivered through the FOIA include a 162-page FBI file obtained from NARA on the International Astronomical Union. The records were summarized and may be accessed through a January blogpost that reflects the significance of academics and scientists to the Cold War global intelligence community. EFR also obtained FBI records responsive to “Storm Area 51,” which show why law enforcement took the 2019 fiasco in the desert dead serious. Read the April blogpost to learn about an AI-powered intelligence tool, Babel Street, that was used to simultaneously monitor hundreds of websites and social media accounts in an effort to combat potentially unlawful actions. We continue to pursue records from county offices responsive to Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. EFR obtained substantial records from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office and followed up with requests to the health department. Significant documents were obtained and may be viewed at the EFR Patreon. Other records requests conducted by EFR include obtaining over 200 pages of written comments submitted to the Uintah County Community Development Office about a proposed oil well in the vicinity of Skinwalker Ranch. Further correspondence with Uintah County revealed the proposal was approved when officials ruled the arguments against construction lacked merit. Expanding Frontiers Research appreciates our supporters that make our work possible. Thank you. Inquiries about projects and related circumstances are encouraged. For more information on NICAP personnel and the intelligence community influence of the UFO genre, please consider browsing the Wayward Sons Book Group, a designated playlist on the EFR YouTube channel. Those who would like to receive a free pdf of the nonfiction book Wayward Sons: NICAP and the IC and who would enjoy participating in the weekly Zoom meetings of the book group are encouraged to email jackbrewerblog at yahoo dot com.

The FBI monitored social media posts made by individuals of interest and a variety of websites during 2019 investigations of the dubious Storm Area 51 They Can't Stop Us All movement, according to Bureau records obtained through the FOIA this week by Expanding Frontiers Research. The FBI Las Vegas field office was authorized to conduct physical surveillance, as well as recruit and develop Confidential Human Sources (CHSs) as a result of a viral Facebook post that attracted UFO buffs and promoters alike. FBI surveillance led to the implementation of Babel Street, an AI-powered threat intelligence tool capable of simultaneously monitoring hundreds of websites. A Sep. 10, 2019, FBI electronic communication, "Title: Documenting the use of persistent search, open source collection tools," established the use of Babel Street. The document stated, "Persistent search is necessary because intermittent manual searches do not provide the necessary timeliness of information required to achieve the purpose of the investigation because of the real-time social media tools used by the persons of interest, and because of the scale of the operation." In 2019, Matty Roberts made a Facebook post encouraging people to meet on Sep. 20 outside Area 51, a secure military base in Nevada long associated with UFO and extraterrestrial lore. Participants of "Storm Area 51" were purportedly going to rush the facility and liberate its flying saucer secrets. Some two million people ostensibly registered to attend. The timeline came to include a number of complexities, including being latched onto by UFO showmen, an accompanying rock concert, the cancellation of storming the base, and significant law enforcement attention. Rolling Stone magazine obtained government documents in 2021 showing dozens of law enforcement agencies mobilized in response to a possible siege on Area 51. The records indicate the potential for domestic or international terrorists to embed within the Storm Area 51 attendees was taken extremely seriously. FBI records obtained this week by EFR reflect the Bureau was prepared to subpoena electronic communication and computing service providers for customer information; task Confidential Human Sources with directives if approved by Supervisory Special Agents; open additional investigations on individuals, groups or organizations whose activities may constitute a threat to the national security; and use Babel Street as a persistent search tool to stay advised of developments in real time. A slider of select FBI documents obtained this week: Additional FBI records obtained document Bureau concerns about a Las Vegas business, Area 15, that posted its plans on Facebook to attend and film the Storm Area 51 happenings. FBI followed open sources in its effort to establish principals of the Area 15 business and related information. Media outlets were also of interest. A Sep. 19, 2019, article from The Hill, Storm Area 51 fans setting up camp in desert Nevada, by Aris Folley was collected by FBI. So was Storm Area 51 fans arriving, setting up roadside campsite by Mick Akers for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. EFR submitted a FOIA request for records responsive to Storm Area 51 in August 2025. FBI advised in January 2026 it located approximately 534 pages of records potentially responsive to the request. EFR reduced the scope of the request to not exceed 50 pages. In a final response dated April 22, 2026, FBI explained 49 pages were reviewed and 36 were being released. The released material was semi-heavily redacted. An appeal of withheld pages and redactions will be submitted. EFR filed a new FOIA request for responsive records not included in the release. Records obtained by EFR from the Lincoln County (NV) Sherrif's Office document the arrest of two young men at Area 51 on Sep. 20, 2019. They drove in together, apparently from Utah, for the Storm Area 51 event and were charged with trespassing after breaching the perimeter. The men voluntarily surrendered their cell phones and were released on bail without significant incident. Things turned more serious for Dreamland website operator Joerg Arnu in 2022 when his chronic interest in Area 51 apparently resulted in the search of two properties and the seizure of electronic equipment. Law enforcement records obtained by EFR demonstrate the sheriff's office was dispatched to Area 51 less than six months before the search warrants were served, when Arnu and three men with German passports were instructed to take their drone and vacate the perimeter of the base. ----------------------------------------------------- Browse the Expanding Frontiers Research Patreon for more resources. Join with a free account or assist with our work with financial support. Please consider making a financial contribution to Expanding Frontiers Research at GoFundMe. Expanding Frontiers Research is a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit corporation, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

Over 200 pages of FBI records responsive to Nicolas de Rochefort were recently obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration. The mysterious de Rochefort (1902-1964) was a psychological warfare specialist, almost certain CIA asset, and organizer of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena after it incorporated in 1956. The records release was a result of a FOIA request first submitted to the FBI in 2020. The latest material obtained was added to a master folder on de Rochefort that also contains 28 pages of responsive records initially provided by FBI in 2020. At that time, the Bureau advised of the existence of FBI file number 140-HQ-13181, in the custody of NARA. The file was subsequently requested, confirmed by NARA to have been compiled as the result of security investigations conducted on de Rochefort during the 1950s and early 1960s, and now obtained after some six years. Nicolas de Rochefort was made a subject of a FOIA request to the FBI by your author while writing Wayward Sons: NICAP and the IC , a nonfiction book exploring the overlap of NICAP and the U.S. intelligence community. View meetings of the Wayward Sons Book Group , which meets via Zoom on Wednesday nights (EDT). The meetings are recorded and uploaded to the Expanding Frontiers Research YouTube channel for public access. Researchers and interested parties may receive a free pdf of the book and are encouraged to request invitations to join the weekly Zoom discussions by emailing jackbrewerblog at yahoo dot com. De Rochefort delivering a speech at 1954 Freedom Day Intelligence Community Investigations The most recently obtained FBI records include documentation of a variety of investigations on Nicolas de Rochefort, covering his employment, personal life and security clearance assessments. A Civil Service Commission employment application includes the following note: A 1955 investigation conducted by the U.S. Information Agency noted de Rochefort's apparent abilities to effectively implement propaganda campaigns through mass agitation and word of mouth ( p28 ). He was repeatedly described as a persuasive promoter. An August 1956 FBI memo and report, subject Nicolas de Rochefort aka Nicolas Hardstone and Armand Duplessis , contains an example of repeated references to de Rochefort offering to assist the FBI during interactions in 1950. He is also documented as having provided information during a 1951 investigation, as shown below, but details of the circumstances are not apparent in FBI files obtained to date: The same 1956 FBI report contains the following item, documenting a letter written by Congressman Walter Judd in which he asserts he personally introduced de Rochefort to the Secretary of State and DCI Allen Dulles: The lines following the statement are redacted, per Exemption (b)(3), intelligence sources and means. NARA reported 206 pages were reviewed, of which 174 were released in full and 32 were released in part. Exemption (b)(7)(d) was also cited. An appeal of the use of exemptions has been submitted. From a 1958 Civil Service Commission security investigation form in which de Rochefort reported his previous employment: De Rochefort's reported employment history contains a number of potentially interesting items. His affiliation with NICAP in late 1956 is noticeably absent from any reference in both security investigations and his self-reported activities. Who Was Nicolas de Rochefort? The man who became a NICAP organizer in 1956 was born to a Russian mother and French father in 1902 St. Petersburg. There is relatively wide agreement his father was in Russia on business, and by at least one account the man was a French diplomat, with the family fleeing Russia during the revolution of 1917. Nicolas de Rochefort went on to reportedly hold rigid anti-Communist political views, though his commitment to democracy would be questioned and become the subject of FBI inquiries in later years. Records indicate de Rochefort's loyalties were repeatedly resolved to the satisfaction of U.S. agencies. De Rochefort fought for the French in World War II and became a prisoner of war. He was released for reasons that fall somewhere between concocting an impressive deception about being ill or having well-placed Nazi connections that did him a favor. Thus are the rumors that add to the ambiguity of Nicolas de Rochefort. As character references tapped by the FBI later suggested, hostile occupation by foreign forces may result in difficulty verifying allegiances, as people tend to do what is required to survive, and the best judge of political loyalties may sometimes be more recent actions. The FBI picked up the trail of de Rochefort after he came to the United States for speaking engagements in 1949 and then sought citizenship in 1954. A series of investigations ensued, ranging from the Foreign Agents Registration Act to a Special Government Employee, or SGE, investigation to clear de Rochefort for ongoing work with the Department of Commerce and State Department. Psychological Warfare De Rochefort may have been most recognized among journalists and historians for his 1953 work on the Committee of One Million, a lobbying group consisting of Washington movers and shakers and opposing the acceptance of Red China into the United Nations. He was credited as a group organizer and conceiving of a campaign to collect signatures on a petition. Some million signatures were reportedly obtained and the initiative was considered highly successful in bringing the issue before the American public. Investigative journalists later reported the China lobby was the most powerful and influential Beltway lobby and that the Committee of One Million was the wealthiest and most powerful part of it. Some journalists suspected the group was a CIA product and that de Rochefort was acting on behalf of the Agency. “[T]he China lobby infected our foreign policy with such fear of 'Red hordes' as to contribute to our panicky commitment in Vietnam,” wrote Robert Sherrill in the New York Times. A 1970s lawsuit sought CIA records responsive to Nicolas de Rochefort, but a judge ruled an effective intelligence service could be greatly impaired by irresponsible disclosure ( p61 ). CIA records on de Rochefort, should they exist - which they almost certainly do, as a court docket referenced arguments about the judge conducting an in camera viewing - have yet to see the light of day. Another reason it could be considered really likely the Committee of One Million was a CIA operation involves a 1949 New York attorney named Desmond FitzGerald. He was destined to become the CIA Deputy Director of Plans in the 1950s but, back before he left the law firm, he chaired a political reform group which sought to defeat the incumbent mayor. The name of the group the future Deputy Director of Plans chaired was the Committee of Five Million. What are the odds, huh? By 1954, de Rochefort was hitting his stride as a recognized expert in psychological warfare and continued the pace at Freedom Day, a celebration in Berlin, NH, honoring East German resistance to Communism. The speech delivered by the World War II POW was broadcast in three languages by Voice of America and had accolades entered into the Congressional Record . FBI investigations of de Rochefort repeatedly reference his competent and extensive work on propaganda campaigns, as does his self-reported employment history. The image below is from his 1956 application to the Civil Service Commission, in which de Rochefort makes one of several references to conducting government research from 1952-1954 and propaganda activities from 1950 to present: A State Department document composed as part of clearing de Rochefort for continuing work: The Complex Timeline While the FBI and State Department were investigating Nicolas de Rochefort in 1956 to ensure he remained a low security risk, NICAP was incorporated by what were, in all reasonable likelihood, CIA and State Department assets. In order to better understand the circumstances, let's briefly back up to 1949, when Director of Central Intelligence – and future NICAP chairman of the board – Roscoe Hillenkoetter sent a letter to the Economic Cooperation Administration. The letter informed the ECA that, while it was already furnishing CIA with economic intelligence, its assistance was requested in increasing the classification of information provided from secret to top secret. The letter: This is significant because a Baltimore public relations firm, Counsel Services, operated by Mary Vaughan King and partners, soon began conducting international projects under the auspices of the ECA. From the May 18, 1949, edition of The (Baltimore) Evening Sun: Mary Vaughan King and the public relations firm, Counsel Services, assisted T. Townsend Brown with incorporating NICAP in 1956. Brown, King, and Thomas D. O'Keefe, a man who described himself in records provided to NICAP as a former State Department employee whose responsibilities included serving on the selection board for foreign service officers ( see p41 of NICAP records), incorporated NICAP ( see p4 ): A contract was immediately drawn up, stipulating additional consultants could be retained to work under the supervision of O'Keefe and King ( p7 ): Interestingly, the most recently obtained FBI records include reference to de Rochefort's familiarity with ECA personnel, as well as personnel of the International Economic Administration, a successor of the ECA. The agencies eventually became USAID, the United States Agency for International Development. NICAP and Nicolas de Rochefort It is indeed curious how de Rochefort, an apparent CIA asset with experience in the China lobby and speaking for Voice of America, came to be milling around the NICAP offices. One might reasonably surmise he was brought on by Counsel Services. A sample of documentation of de Rochefort's involvement as contained in a December 1956 progress report for the board, per NICAP records ( p88 ): An intriguing part of the initial NICAP turmoil involved the dismissal of T. Townsend Brown. In the same December 1956 progress report, circumstances were described in which de Rochefort was selected to replace Brown ( p89 ): Fascinatingly, it was none other than Nicolas de Rochefort who nixed the replacement ( pp93-94 ): This might be interpreted a number of ways, including de Rochefort preferred Brown remain as long as possible, or that de Rochefort had no desire to be the executive vice chairman. It might also be interpreted that de Rochefort had greater understandings of the NICAP procedures than most, possibly implying he was involved in their writing. That, or he had a support team pointing out details for him. However we might choose to look at it, the longtime narrative that Donald Keyhoe took the reins of NICAP and cleared out the CIA, which was attracted to the org, seems extremely questionable. It appears quite possible the CIA and Nicolas de Rochefort were, in fact, instrumental in launching NICAP if not forging a path for Keyhoe.

Expanding Frontiers Research is excited to announce weekly meetings are set to begin of the Wayward Sons Book Group. The regularly held Zoom meetings will consist of reading and discussion of this writer's nonfiction book WAYWARD SONS: NICAP AND THE IC. The book explores the intersection between the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena and the intelligence community. Zoom meetings will be recorded and uploaded to the Expanding Frontiers Research YouTube channel for public availability. What: Wayward Sons Book Group When: Wednesday, March 25, 8pm Eastern is the first weekly Zoom meeting. How: Email jackbrewerblog at yahoo dot com to receive a free pdf copy of WAYWARD SONS and to be placed on the list to receive Zoom invitations to weekly group meetings. To be clear, this is not an event that will be published live on YouTube in which people may participate in chat; the group will meet in Zoom meetings, which will be recorded and later uploaded to YouTube. In order to participate, email jackbrewerblog at yahoo dot com. We have a great group shaping up and we hope you join us, bringing your perspectives and insights to the complex dissection of the mid-20th century world of NICAP, UFOs and the U.S. intelligence community. It's guaranteed to prove interesting, and we may very well also learn more about the present by exploring the past. ------------------------------------------- Browse the EFR Patreon and follow us on Bluesky .

Video: FBI Espionage Investigation and the UFO Connection FBI records responsive to Lois Jessop were recently obtained from the National Archives in response to a FOIA request submitted by Expanding Frontiers Research. The material partially answers questions left in the wake of FBI memos previously received that reference the New York Saucer Information Bureau and several UFO personalities, as reported in an evolving series of posts . Aspects of the New York UFO community were scrutinized by FBI agents during a Cold War espionage investigation of a man known as Robert Stark. This blogpost will cover FOIA circumstances that arose during the course of research and summarize the latest records received. Sanderson and Santesson The EFR ongoing investigation started, or at least got a substantial boost, when a 1958 FBI memo was obtained that documented Ivan Sanderson initiating contact with the FBI. He called the Newark Field Office and alerted it to potential subversive activity taking place at meetings of the New York Saucer Information Bureau (NYSIB). Agents soon visited Sanderson, who was joined for the interview by associate Hans Santesson. The two men proceeded to tell FBI, according to the memo, that NYSIB “meetings are just being held under the guise of information concerning unidentified flying objects but in reality are meetings being used to expand the Communist Party line.” The memo further documented the men told FBI that when NYSIB meeting attendees were requested to take action, “the requests are not in connection with scientific or factual information concerning unidentified flying objects, but are rather requests for the people to write their Congressmen to stop the nuclear war, to tear down our national defense, and to stop secrecy in the Government.” Both Sanderson and Santesson committed they would be willing to cooperate with the FBI in any manner about NYSIB and those who frequently attended its meetings. This would not be the last time the FBI heard such things about the UFO genre. Leon Davidson wrote a 1960 letter to Dir. J. Edgar Hoover , sharing his concerns that a force with hidden agendas was "cloaking itself" in the UFO topic. Learn more about his comments, as well as those Gray Barker also sent to the FBI director, as explored in an EFR August blogpost . Gabriel Green The 1958 FBI memo referenced above was previously released by FBI, yet EFR did not happen to be aware of it. The subject of the FOIA request that brought it to our attention was not NYSIB, Sanderson or Santesson, but Gabriel Green, one of several people named in the memo and described as potentially subversive. Interestingly enough, it was a May 2025 FOIA request on Gabriel Green, suggested by Erica Lukes, that resulted in EFR obtaining the memo. Once the memo was in hand, a series of FOIA requests on names referenced were then submitted to FBI, as well as requests on people named in records EFR began receiving in response. No further records have yet been obtained on Gabriel Green, ironically, who was described in the 1958 FBI memo as chairman of the Los Angeles Interplanetary Study Group. Santesson supplied FBI with two pamphlets titled “Thy Kingdom Come” published by the group. The material was described by FBI as “a complete booklet on prior choice economics,” which is a system where acquisition of goods is eligibility-based and tallied over the course of one's lifetime of work history. Gabriel Green advocated the system and reportedly asserted it was used by extraterrestrial civilizations. It is common when submitting FOIA requests to the FBI for older records to have been transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). In such circumstances, FBI provides file numbers of potentially responsive records to the requester. A FOIA request is then submitted to NARA for the corresponding FBI files. Writers as Informants and Assets An initial research question for EFR became whether the FBI took Sanderson and Santesson up on their offers to be of assistance. The answer comes more clearly into focus as results of FOIA requests continue to be received, but, yes, at least in part, FBI considered the men to be resources. Ivan T. Sanderson FBI circled back to interview Sanderson further about the New York Saucer Information Bureau, according to an April 1963 FBI memo . EFR subsequently learned the action was related to an investigation opened in mid-1961 on Robert Stark as a possible Soviet espionage agent. FBI apparently did not particularly prioritize information obtained from Sanderson and Santesson in 1958 but later incorporated it into assessments as its investigation of Stark progressed, revealing his involvement with the NYSIB and various UFO personalities. More FBI records are currently in processing with NARA and expected to be obtained by EFR on Santesson, Stark and others. Records have already been obtained on select individuals described to the FBI by Sanderson and Santesson as influential at the NYSIB, including purported UFO contactees Daniel Fry , Truman Bethurum and Wayne Aho . Among those referenced to FBI was also Lois Jessop, a secretary and editor at New York Saucer Information Bureau. It was after FBI definitively linked Stark to Lois Jessop and Daniel Fry in January 1963 that it paid another visit to Sanderson in April the same year. Robert Stark was documented by FBI to use multiple aliases and have a limited verifiable history. He was believed to be foreign, possibly a Polish national, while claiming to have been born in Detroit. He was known to interact with several women of different nationalities. Stark was employed on a limited basis and had experience in electronics and television repair. One of his several aliases was Stanislaw Starkowski, and he enrolled the assistance of a woman known as Cristel Vorwitt, who spent time in West Germany, France, New York and New Jersey. Stark adopted her last name while also using the pen name Edgar A. Griffith. Stark and Cristel Vorwitt claimed to be married while she helped him write several articles and two book manuscripts with flying saucer and contactee themes. Fry and Jessop Files When FBI records responsive to Lois Jessop were recently received, it quickly became apparent some of the material was quite similar to records obtained in response to our FOIA request on Daniel Fry. There was, however, an extremely important difference: The same FBI material, so heavily redacted in response to the Fry request it inspired a still-open appeal, was released almost in full in response to the request on Jessop. This is a clear example of why it can be advantageous to put effort in obtaining records for ourselves that may have been previously released, or why one might submit what may at times seem like repetitious requests. Below is an image from a March 1963 FBI memo in a file deemed responsive to Daniel Fry and obtained directly from the FBI. It is followed by a screenshot of the corresponding pages from a copy of the same memo obtained when FBI referred EFR to NARA for records responsive to Lois Jessop: Even the subject of the lengthy memo was redacted in the Fry response as compared to records filed as responsive to Jessop: William Johnston Another comparison, revealing a reference to a William Francis Johnston in the more declassified set of records obtained: The above paragraph is relevant because Johnston is the subject of a 2022 FOIA request initially submitted to FBI and still open with NARA. The request was inspired by FBI records responsive to Richard Hall of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena. A 1961 FBI memo , Subject: William Francis Johnston, documents statements obtained by FBI from Hall and Donald Keyhoe. In addition to FBI reaching out to NICAP, it can be discerned from the memo that Johnston resided in Long Island. He had contact with the NYSIB, as documented in the above screenshot. Johnston was involved in the saucer scene and numbered among those (at least ostensibly) trying to raise awareness and influence public opinion on the topic. It is not entirely clear why Johnston was of concern to the Bureau. FBI documented learning from Hall and Keyhoe that Johnston submitted a NICAP membership subscription application, followed by three more letters directed to the group between 1959 and 1960. Included in his correspondence to NICAP was a copy of a letter sent from Johnston to President Dwight Eisenhower, dated July 4, 1959. In one of the three letters, Johnston sought Keyhoe's help securing a speaker for the Saint Bartholomew's Community Club of New York City. NARA stated in an interim FOIA response that Johnston is the subject of the FBI file requested in 2022 and that it consists of approximately 400 pages. As of this writing, the file is making its way through the NARA Tier 1 queue for processing. FBI Makes the Stark-UFO Connection FBI provided two file numbers to seek from NARA in response to a FOIA request for records cross-referencing or pertaining to Lois Jessop. The largest of the two files contains 61 pages of FBI memos in which Jessop is referenced, while surveillance of Stark and interviews of his contacts are detailed. The progressing story that runs through the memos contains substantial insight into FBI Cold War culture and surveillance tactics. It culminates into a series of July 1963 interviews with Cristel Vorwitt. “New York calling,” read a card in an envelope addressed to “Robert Vorwitt.” The card carried the salutation, “To RV,” and was signed, “Lois.” The item was retrieved by FBI in January 1963, along with a second card, after Stark was observed placing material into a public trash receptacle near his residence. FBI follow-up indicated Lois Jessop was the sender of one of the cards and Cristel Vorwitt mailed the other. Both cards were torn in half. "We hope to see you around here soon,” read the other card. “Please be good enough to bring the camera along as we want to make some pictures on Christmas. And have a very merry Christmas." It was signed, “Cristel.” Later that same month, January 1963, a redacted informant searched Stark's rented room. A list of names and addresses were discovered, which included George Adamski. Also found was correspondence from Daniel Fry, indicating Fry was agreeable to publishing several articles submitted by Stark. A significant portion of the following information was redacted in the Fry file, while fully disclosed in the records provided in response to the request on Jessop: FBI learned Stark submitted two manuscripts to New York publishers, probably with a lot of assistance from Cristel Vorwitt, and apparently wanting them published under the name Edgar A. Griffith. The titles, as documented in FBI memos, were "Invitation to Space Adventure" and "Focus on the Unknown." Cristel Vorwitt FBI lost track of Robert Stark by July 1963. For whatever reasons, the decision was made to tip its hand, at least in part, and proceed with interviewing Cristel Vorwitt. When first approached, Vorwitt was reluctant to comply with the Bureau and minimized her relationship with Stark. She was documented as telling FBI the arrangement included her financial support of Stark while he wrote. She claimed he promised her $10,000 or a similar payout after he successfully had a book published. Vorwitt emphasized Stark never harmed her and she did not want to contribute to his potential incarceration without knowing more about why the FBI was investigating him. After two interviews, Vorwitt softened her stance, contacting the New York office on July 17, 1963, and requesting a meeting. She advised an agent she had reconsidered her reluctance to cooperate. Given the potential seriousness of the situation, she decided to inform the Bureau she remained in contact with Stark, as was strongly suspected. Stark had been at the Herbert Hotel in San Francisco, Vorwitt alleged, and further explained she warned him in a letter that FBI was trying to locate him. Vorwitt described how she recently spoke to Stark by telephone, and that he claimed he did not know the reason for FBI interest and suggested he might contact the San Francisco office to find out. He wanted to know how many agents contacted her, however, and he asked her from where she was making the call. Vorwitt indicated she told Stark she was making the call from work. “He was upset at this answer and told her that this was unwise since the FBI could now trace the call,” FBI documented. The memo ends with the reporting agent (from the NYC office) noting the Aug. 19, 1963, memo would be copied to divisions including Chicago and Los Angeles. San Francisco would also be copied "since that office is in the process of conducting interviews with the subject."  Interestingly, an October 1963 edition of James W. Moseley's Saucer News  was located that carried a paragraph alluding to the circumstances (pictured below). Moseley told readers he was visited on Aug. 23, 1963, by FBI agents from the New York City office, who referenced Robert Vorwitt and the NYSIB, and asked the newsletter distributor for the address of Lois Jessop. The FBI agents, according to Moseley, indicated they hoped Jessop could lead them to Robert Vorwitt/Stark or give them some information on the man. Given what we now know about the content of FBI interviews with Cristel Vorwitt in July, and that the NY office seemed to be under the impression the SF office was in the process of interviewing Stark, one might reasonably speculate the Bureau approached James Moseley in late August for any number of reasons in addition to those overtly stated. Lois Jessop The second of the two pdfs we were advised by FBI to request from NARA (and subsequently obtained) may very well be pertaining to a different Lois “Jessup,” a woman who resided in North Carolina. It may be significant that EFR is not the first to note some difficulty positively determining the NYSIB woman's history. Similarly, EFR has not yet obtained any records documenting an interview of Lois Jessop as described by James Moseley. That might indeed be considered odd, as Jessop became the subject of a FOIA request in the first place because she seemed like such an obvious place for an investigation to lead the Bureau. It is possible records were not preserved, or that they might yet surface in FBI files compiled on other individuals, such as Robert Stark or William Johnston, on which EFR still awaits final responses. Constance Lois Jessop of the New York Saucer Information Bureau seems to have been born in 1905 in England and was well-traveled. She gained some increased saucer circuit notoriety after writing about a dubious Shaver-like tale of Maltese cavern-dwelling giants . Scholars of Maltese history experienced difficulty tracing her roots and activities. It is not clear, for instance, whether “Jessop” was a maiden or married name and an alternate spelling is common. Lois Jessop was also debated to have been employed at the British embassy in Malta or employed by the British government. This might be considered interesting in the context of our research, as well as in the context of Ivan Sanderson, who was involved with British intelligence during World War II. He was a press agent is a reason he was in New York in the first place. There is confusion about Constance Lois Jessop's history and activities both before and after her run with NYSIB, which, in a manner of speaking, is right on brand for ufology. Nonetheless, FBI records responsive to Jessop provide insight into the FBI hunt for Stark, his place in the murky history of flying saucers, and how the topic intersects with the intelligence community. ----------------------------------------------- Timeline A timeline of select events surrounding Robert Stark and the New York Saucer Information Bureau that can be discerned from FBI records obtained to date: 1921, Stark later unreliably claimed to be born this year in Detroit. 1955, no FBI confirmation of Stark's whereabouts prior to this year. Stark periodically listed his residence as 808 West End Ave., NYC, from 1955-1962. It was later substantiated he resided at the address in apartment 406 in May 1956 and again in October 1957. 1957, Stark was employed at the Bogen-Presto Division of the Siegler Corp., NJ, which was owned by David Bogen, a Russian immigrant who sold the company the same year. Bogen quite successfully ran electronics and audio companies in the New York area before selling them in the 1950s. 1958, Stark lived in LA. 1958, May, Ivan Sanderson and Hans Santesson initiate contact with FBI to inform it about their concerns about the NYSIB. 1959, latter part of year, Stark worked at Jacmir Electronics Corporation, NYC. Owner, Prager, later told FBI Stark was constantly receiving phone calls from a female that Stark said was not his wife and on one occasion received a letter from a female that Prager recalled to be obscene in content. 1960, Oct., FBI documented a mail cover indicated NYSIB was in contact with William Francis Johnston during July & August. 1960-61 Stark used the name Robert Vorwitt while living at 1923 65th Street, Brooklyn. 1961, March, Lois Jessop published “Malta, Entrance to the Cavern World,” in the Journal of Borderland Research. 1961, May, FBI contacted NICAP and inquired about William Francis Johnston. mid-1961, FBI opens investigation on Stark as a possible Soviet espionage agent. 1962, Stark resided in LA again. 1962, Nov.-Dec., Stark briefly worked as a car spraypainter at Custom Coach Company, Bronx. During this same time, a mail cover reflects various items were received by Stark from Rose Foster with one exception, a postcard from Cristel Vorwitt, postmarked West Germany. 1963, Jan., FBI first links Stark to the UFO genre when Stark is observed depositing material into a public trash receptacle which is retrieved and found to be postcards sent from Lois Jessop and Cristel Vorwitt, respectively. Later that month, Stark is linked to Daniel Fry when a redacted informant reports on correspondence found in Stark's rented room. Informant also reports finding names and addresses on a list that include George Adamski. 1963, Jan.-Feb., Stark was observed working at John's Television Service, NYC, while under FBI surveillance. 1963, April, FBI interviews Sanderson again, inquiring about Stark and his possible connections to NYSIB. 1963, June, spot check and full-time surveillance employed to try to locate Stark. 1963, July, FBI conducts interviews with Cristel Vorwitt. Among other points of interest, she mentions Lois Jessop corresponded with Stark as Robert Vorwitt. Cristel Vorwitt claimed to not know the nature of the correspondence. Cristel is reluctant to assist FBI but soon contacts agent, arranges their now third meeting, and expresses a change of position while giving up Stark's alleged location in SF. 1963, Aug., copies of FBI records on Stark were sent from the New York office to Chicago and LA divisions. SF office was also copied "since that office is in the process of conducting interviews with the subject," the NY office wrote in a memo dated Aug. 19, 1963. 1963, Oct., James Moseley publishes a newsletter stating he was visited by FBI agents from the New York office on Aug. 23, 1963, and asked for the address of Lois Jessop. Moseley further wrote this was so she could help lead FBI to Robert Vorwitt (Stark) or at least give them information on him.

Law enforcement records of arrests conducted at the 2023 and 2024 annual Burning Man events have been obtained by Expanding Frontiers Research. Material received thus far includes case reports, witness statements and digital images released by the Pershing County (NV) Sheriff's Office as part of a still-open records request. The material has been organized and posted in the EFR Online Archive in a Burning Man collection , which includes a slideshow of several images from the records received. Aerial view of 2010 Burning Man that included a reported 51,525 participants, credit: Kyle Harmon The arrest reports reflect violence and drug use. Domestic violence and battery charges are prevalent, while e cstasy, ketamine, psilocybin, methamphetamine, cocaine and other drugs often found their ways into the custody of law enforcement. In addition to circumstances inherent to rampant use of mind-altering drugs, challenges for law enforcement also include answering the related calls of assault and battery in extreme weather conditions. In 2023, a shelter in place notice was issued when flooding from rain was so heavy that vehicles could not navigate the area. An officer assigned to the event used an all-terrain vehicle to respond to a call for help when a man repeatedly entered a private camp and physically assaulted its members. The officer documented measures taken to detain the suspect and deescalate the situation after having been informed agencies were unable to assist and remove the individual due to the flooding. Both 2024 and 2023 included someone charged with assault with a deadly weapon, and in each case, it was a motor vehicle. A green Chevy van, pictured below, was the carelessly operated weapon of choice in 2024, and in 2023 a Uhaul truck was reportedly used in an attempt to run people down. A similar FOIA request was submitted to the FBI, and a final response has not yet been received. FBI records, if obtained, will be posted in the Burning Man section of the EFR Online Archive. More records are also expected from Pershing County and will be added when obtained. View the growing Burning Man collection of law enforcement records and accompanying images.