The Inevitable

UFO DISCLOSURE IS NIGH

I watched as the storm hit Twitter and Facebook...well, mostly Twitter.  A huge UFO story in the New York Times was about to break.  A blogger was being hailed as the next UFO superstar.  There was mention of a Pulitzer and how this story was going to crack government secrets wide open.  UFO disclosure was coming.  Free energy would follow.  Secret sources verified it was happening. The biggest story ever was going to be told.

Lines were drawn between those cheering the coming disclosure, and those wanting more proof or outright calling it nonsense with many in the latter camp.  A new generation of so-called UFO Young Guns had it all figured out, while claiming the so-called Old Guard UFO club was just bitter, even afraid of what disclosure would bring.

Online spats broke out.  Some took the high road, others slung shit.  Memes flew wildly.  Some said "this is 100% real" while hedging their bets with "if I'm wrong" or "in my opinion".  Hour upon hour was spent staring at the frenzy happening on UFO social media.  I shook my head, others reveled in the UFO furor that I'd seen one too many times.

Here are a few quotes from those supporting or promoting the documents and/or the coming UFO disclosure as being legitimate.

"Haters? No. Ignorant as to what's about to happen? Yep."

"The documents are real, deal with it."

"Bask in it my friend because it's all going to work out, and in the end you and everyone else will be vindicated."

"Looking forward to watching you eat shit when the truth comes out."

You might be lost right about here, so let me explain...

TELL ME MORE, PLEASE, AND BE BRIEF

Last year, I wrote about Richard Dolan releasing some documents he called "the UFO leak of the century."  The documents were alleged to have been notes taken by Dr. Eric Davis (left) recounting a meeting with a retired Navy Vice Admiral about UFOs and Special Access Programs (SAPs) where the Vice Admiral was allegedly denied access to secret UFO programs.

You can read the alleged Eric Davis notes here.

In June 2020, journalist Billy Cox contacted this retired Vice Admiral for comment on the notes.  The former Vice Admiral denied the meeting ever took place, denied ever having met Davis and called the notes a work of "fiction."

I wrote the whole affair off as yet another piece of unproven UFO lore.  After all, there wasn't any evidence aside from the notes and Davis had issued a "no comment" as to the authenticity of the notes and his involvement.  People went wild over this no comment from Davis, calling it an admission disguised in a denial.  Wink-wink.  Did the meeting happen?  Only Eric Davis and the retired Vice Admiral can say, neither are confirming it and there is no verifiable evidence showing the meeting ever took place.

Just over a month ago, I watched as Joe Murgia, better known online by his Twitter handle @UfoJoe11, began writing with fervor on his blog and on Twitter his claims that the Eric Davis notes were real.  Murgia also promoted an alleged 1961 UFO crash retrieval government document as authentic while citing anonymous sources he claimed verified his info.

The alleged 1961 SNIE UFO crash retrieval document references the infamous Majestic Twelve (MJ-12) and had several typos while using a classification type not used in the 1961 time frame the document is alleged to be from.  Then it was mentioned the document making the rounds was a re-typed copy.  I found too many problems with the document to take it seriously.

Claims followed that the New York Times was going to feature all of this in a story proving the government has a secret UFO crash retrieval program along with recovered UFOs, that the documents were all real.  Dr. Davis, a retired Navy Commander and other important figures would soon be on record.  Vindication for UFO disclosure advocates was coming and hell was coming with it.  Then I started seeing more than just claims, it was being presented as fact.

Soon enough there were live online panels, one lasting five hours in which the documents were discussed and people claimed to have seen this or that.  There was another show with someone called "Mr. X" giving an impassioned speech about black budget UFO projects.  When I say impassioned, I sincerely mean it.  "Mr. X" was very articulate.

I saw all the disclosure believers high-fiving each other online, anyone questioning the legitimacy of these documents and the coming new world we'd face with UFO disclosure was the enemy.  Books and special memberships were offered for sale.

I waited as weeks went by with no article.  Someone claimed there was computer data from an e-mail that would be used to prove the Eric Davis notes as real. Assurances were made the big story was coming.  Disclosure was still on track. I later saw wavering about the story possibly getting killed by editors and bad timing. Some led the charge for the UFO disclosure faithful saying it would happen and to stand firm.  The new UFO rock gods were in the house and they were bringing the thunder.

Disclosure proponents were saying how foolish the naysayers would soon be looking.  Some posted to save screen shots of those online being critical of the alleged Eric Davis notes, the claimed 1961 UFO document and the coming story from the New York Times.  You see, the screen shots would be used to embarrass those who dared take a knee when the UFO disclosure anthem was being played.  Those on the wrong side of history would be shamed.

John Greenwald of The Black Vault seemed to express sincere concern, wondering if Murgia had succumbed to the madness that enveloped Paul Bennewitz.  Before you smirk and roll your eyes at UFO disinformation, know that it is indeed real and I say that with an absolute straight face.  Check out Greg Bishop's amazing book Project: Beta about UFO disinformation and the creation of the modern UFO myth that cost a man his sanity and eventually his life.

Had Murgia and others been the target of a UFO disinfo campaign?  Was the New York Times story a ruse?  Had the Vice Admiral mentioned in the Davis notes been part of some deceptive operation?  I thought Richard Doty might've stayed up past his bedtime again.  Had Murgia fallen too far down a rabbit hole of his own manifestation?

But then I couldn't believe it...it actually happened.  The New York Times did indeed publish a story about UFOs and crash retrievals. UFO Twitter wept.

Dr. Eric Davis was quoted in the article about giving a classified briefing on UFO crash retrievals.  Former Nevada senator Harry Reid, one of the people responsible for establishing the AATIP program, was quoted as saying the government was in possession of UFO craft and UFO debris.  The New York Times was now the savior of UFO disclosure.

The article touched on the ATTIP program and the recent Senate Intelligence Committee bill put forth that includes formation of a UAP task force - the bill has passed the Senate and is now on its way to the House.

The article made it into the news cycle and other media outlets picked up on it.

I watched as the ripple effect was in motion and there was no stopping it now.

DISCLOSURE WAS FINALLY HERE

Would I get the answers to the weird shit I've seen and experienced?  Would my personal opinions about it all be verified or would the disclosure favor those I've said were full of shit?  Would the government disclose alien life or would they just have a small piece of something unknown and were just as baffled by all of it as the rest of us? 

I voluntarily added my name to the roll call list of those doubting the veracity of MJ12 and the 1961 UFO document.  Would I be left in the wake and shadow of history?  My name lamented from the lips of the faithful asking for my soul to be saved?  Would I be ostracized from the flow of disclosure information?  

Had the long prophesied UFO disclosure finally happened?

Not even close.  No.  No government UFO disclosure today.  Sorry. Come back later.  Maybe.

No mention of the alleged Eric Davis notes.  No high ranking Navy officers on record.  No reality shattering revelations.  Speculation?  Certainly.  Proof?  Not so much and it just got worse.

Post-publishing corrections of the article happened and of all people to misquote, Harry Reid was the absolute wrong one to do that to.  Reid issued a strong rebuke to the article's claim he said UFO craft and debris were being held by the government.

Other outlets picked up the story from the New York Times prior to them being aware of Reid's stance.  Now I was being treated to misleading headlines claiming the Pentagon stated they had UFO craft and debris from another world.  Podcaster and MMA color commentator Joe Rogan was spreading the Pentagon bit around as fact when it wasn't.

Reid made his point clear by using three, belittling words despised by most interested in the serious study of UFOs.

LITTLE.  GREEN.  MEN.

His point should be taken considering the low level of evidence, in many cases no evidence, UFO die-hards are willing to accept and promote.  Reid echoed the sentiment I felt, that the evidentiary bar must be set high where the UFO topic is concerned.

Of course, this opened the flood gates for replies to Reid's Tweet.  Joe Murgia urged Reid to look at all of the postings about the alleged Eric Davis notes Murgia had written.

Reid made his stance clear and I seriously doubt he has time for some papers that have absolutely no evidence to prove any of their content, let alone that the meeting ever occurred.

With the UAP task force bill recently being passed by the Senate, can you imagine someone who is a serious believer in the so-called Eric Davis notes or anything with MJ-12 in the contents walking into some face-time with Senator Rubio.  I can hear it now, "Well, Mr. Rubio, don't worry, I've got it all right here!  No need for a task force.  Just read my Twitter account and blog."  

Those in political and military positions who might be able to help out, they need to be impressed with the best evidence available.  This is not a situation where you want be short on evidence and try to dazzle them with bullshit and the weakest of circumstantial evidence.

I'm sure Reid is shaking his head at many of the comments made toward him or from the UFO conspiracy club making crazy claims.  Reid still has influence in political realms and souring him, or others in similar positions to help, to the idea of UFOs because of a few coming off as fanatics is the last thing I want to see.

Parts of the UFO community have no thought as to the damage they might do to the highest of supporters for serious UFO/UAP investigation, and it certainly showed on Twitter with believers shitting on the New York Times and Reid.  Some claiming they would cancel their subscription to the newspaper, likely none are actual subscribers.

Talk of Reid possibly having been influenced by the UFO gatekeepers to keep quiet and change his tune circulated.

Did Reid back pedal?  Was he afraid what was claimed he originally said was too dangerous?  Jitters?  Had he actually been misquoted?

It certainly didn't take Richard Dolan long to jump on the bandwagon playing the silenced angle, that the New York Times may have sanitized the article.

This is the same Richard Dolan who said skeptics would have a hard time disproving the Eric Davis notes.  Dolan said the same thing about the now infamous and highly embarrassing Roswell Slides fiasco.

"The documents are real, deal with it!"

--Richard Dolan on the so-called Eric Davis notes.

Nobody has provided any proof of the meeting or the contents of the notes as being real.  Proclamation does not equate to evidence no matter how hard Dolan thinks it does.

Some say the article had 1,000 words cut out of it.  If that's the case, I'd love to see it all unedited.

Correction to the above reply I posted via Twitter.  It should read "reporters" and not "reports". The word "their" should be "there.  Thanks for nothing, voice to text.

Hopefully there's nothing preventing the independent release of what editors at the New York Times are alleged to have cut out.  I understand an interview with both authors, Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumentahl, has taken place and I'm interesting in hearing what they have to say.

Kean and Blumenthal were not too fond of Murgia and his frantic pace of hyping this all up to more than it would ever become.  Murgia has arguably been the staunchest of supporters of the alleged Eric Davis notes and suspect 1961 SNIE UFO document.

In response to Alejandro Rojas' view this would amount to nothing prior to the New York Times story dropping, Murgia wrote on Twitter, "We already KNOW the documents are real and the [New York Times] article is on its way. Crash retrievals and Wilson/Davis docs. Have you finally accepted it, [Alejdandro Rojas]? The inevitable is here!"

Yep, the inevitable certainly was here...the inevitable fiery crash of another UFO disclosure claim with no verifiable evidence to back it up.  This seems to happen with frequency in the UFO crowd and I cringe when I see it coming.

Rumblings of UFO disclosure about to hit a breakthrough.  The proof is right there if you just look...so some say.

THE DAY AFTER DISCLOSURE

In the aftermath of the fizzle, some supporting it said nobody takes them seriously.  They should take a big step back and look at what they've been saying and promoting, and how it was being relayed.  The word arrogant comes to mind.

My memory certainly won't be foggy.  There was a lot of gun slinging online from those advocating disclosure and the notes would be revealed as legitimate. When you fire shots at people, you should expect that fire to be returned.

Naming the media outlet, some who would be quoted and the authors of the article doesn't amount to much considering the online frothing leading up to the article's release.  I would have loved seeing actual evidence of these extraordinary claims, instead of the arrogant laced blathering I witnessed.

Giving free ammunition to debunkers, skeptics and others is, has been, and will always be the way of the UFO faithful. Making themselves and the topic very easy targets by not comprehending what evidence actually constitutes, or having a thought of how it might impact the subject.  This segment of the UFO community really is its own worse enemy.

Murgia said he dreamed that his blog and YouTube audience would grow to the size of the Drudge Report when disclosure finally came.  Call me cynical and I don't see that happening.  Ever.

I've made plenty of mistakes and supported some bullshit I thought was real.  #embarrassed  I thought Roswell was the be-all-end-all. #notanymore  I thought Jaime Maussan and Linda Moulton Howe were the real deal. #icantbelieveiteither #wtf #noyoudidnt #sorry

In 26 years of UFOs, roughly half my life, I've seen this same scenario play out the same way each time. A lot of this has been hack investigation from the start instead of a well planned, thorough investigation in which all the work is done then the results are released with verifiable facts and evidence.

Sadly, this is very unlikely the last time I will see another far hyped, frantic and foolish UFO disclosure claim.  Oh, I'm quite sure I'll see more based on the history of this subject.

It didn't take long.  Murgia says there's a book being written and it will be more explosive this time around.  Infidels be damned.

Sean David Morton Sentenced to Federal Prison

Sean David Morton sentenced to federal prison.

© Copyright 2017 ufowatchdog.com

(Special thanks to Greg Bishop of Radio Mysterioso for his coverage of the sentencing hearing and providing ufowatchdog.com with updates and details)

Today at 11AM (PST), a federal judge sentenced bogus psychic Sean David Morton to 72 months in federal prison for his part in a tax scheme in which he was found guilty of falsifying tax documents, filing false tax returns while victimizing people for tens of thousands of dollars in a straw-man redemption scheme, and defrauding the IRS out of nearly $500,000.00.

Morton, who gained notoriety through the late night radio show Coast To Coast AM and through new age/UFO seminars for his wild predictions and UFO tales, was convicted on over 50 felony counts in federal court in early April.  Morton boasted he was "simply the best" when it came to making accurate psychic predictions, yet he never foresaw the coming of his own demise.

Federal agents originally arrested Morton and his wife in February 2016 as they disembarked from a conspiracy convention that took place aboard a cruise ship - ironically, one of the charges against The Mortons was conspiracy.  The Mortons were released after posting bond and later went to trial in federal court.

Prior to their arrest, the IRS contacted The Mortons on more than one occasion advising them the paperwork and forms they were filing were illegal and to cease filing them.  When The Mortons continued to file false bonds and paperwork in spite of repeated warnings from the IRS, a federal grand jury convened and indicted The Mortons on numerous felony counts.  While prosecutors filed 56 charges against each of The Mortons, they had the option of filing in excess of 100 charges against each Sean David Morton and Melissa Ann Morton.

Federal agents later served a search warrant on Morton's apartment and seized computers, mobile phones, and documents among other items.

During the trial, Morton represented himself and filed a myriad of bizarre filings in an attempt to disrupt proceedings, including proclaiming himself judge of his own court.

Self proclaimed "legal and
constitutional expert"
Sean David Morton.

"The court is familiar with the multitude of nonsensical pleadings [Morton] filed and stated in Court throughout the course of this criminal case, which has not abated since his conviction. [Morton]'s pattern of conduct of filing unintelligible pleadings began weeks after the initial indictment of defendants...The day [Morton] was released from his arrest, he filed unintelligible pleadings..." -- Prosecutors in a sentencing recommendation for Sean David Moron

Morton was advised several times by the presiding judge concerning his outbursts in court and his repeatedly calling IRS agents "jack booted thugs".  A jury took two hours to deliberate and return guilty verdicts on all counts against Morton and his wife.

After his conviction, prosecutors from the Department of Justice were seeking an 87 month prison term calling Morton "a serial fraudster."  Morton was scheduled to be sentenced in June but failed to appear in court as ordered.  A warrant for Morton's arrest was immediately issued.

"This is clearly a case where [Morton] has willfully undertaken a systematic effort to impede this prosecution and the resulting sentencing." -- Prosecutors sentencing recommendation on Morton.

Federal agents began surveillance on Morton's apartment, later spotting Morton's car parked at a nearby Domino's Pizza.  A short time later, federal agents observed Morton walking out of the business wearing a hat, sunglasses, a hooded jacket with the hood up, carrying a black computer bag.  Morton got back into his car and drove away.  It is unknown what kind, if any pizza Morton may have ordered.

Federal agents continued following Morton where he next stopped at the Fairmount Private School in Anaheim, California.  Agents reported being able to see Morton in the building as Morton repeatedly looked through a window, but did not elaborate on why Morton was there.  It appears the agents were waiting for what they felt was the best tactically safe place and time to arrest Morton, and with good reason; Morton's wife had told federal agents that Morton had a firearm.

On June 21st, agents from the U.S. Marshall's Service observed Morton's car parked in the driveway of his apartment and moved in to take Morton into custody.  Agents entered the apartment only to find Morton's wife inside and she denied knowing his whereabouts.

Melissa Morton had been allowed to remain out of custody on a release agreement which included her allowing federal authorities to monitor her cellphone and computer activity along with her agreeing to have no contact with Morton.  She also agreed to pay $10,000.00 if she violated any of the terms of her release.

Sean David Morton on a live YouTube interview while
he was still a wanted fugitive.

While on the run from authorities, Morton appeared on a live streaming YouTube program.  During the broadcast, Morton called the prosecutors and judge in his case "the biggest gang of criminals you're ever gonna' see." He also stated no warrant had been issued for his arrest and he was working on addressing legal issues relating to his case.

Morton made the baffling and unsubstantiated claim that the federal government profited over $417,000,000.00 by prosecuting him in a "kangaroo court."  Federal prosecutors noted this YouTube appearance in Morton's updated sentencing recommendation.

All of Morton's disjointed and babbling appeals were denied well before the YouTube broadcast and he had brought an end to any legal options he might have had because he had not been sentenced.  In order for an appeal to be considered, a case has to be completed including a defendant having been sentenced.  Morton claims to be a "legal and constitutional expert", but he does not have a law degree nor is he a licensed attorney.

Morton said during this same program that he would be returning to his Internet radio show soon, and undoubtedly Morton intended to use his status as a federal fugitive in an attempt to bolster his show.  Morton appeared on another streaming Internet program where he mocked the government by jokingly saying "oh no, they found me" while he laughed.

Hotel where The Mortons were taken into custody.

The following day, August 21st, federal agents followed Morton's wife to a hotel in Desert Hot Springs, California where she was meeting with Morton to view the eclipse.  Morton was taken into custody by the hotel's pool while Melissa Morton was nowhere to be found.  Federal agents intercepted Melissa Morton as she attempted to elude them by driving out of the hotel parking lot.  The arrest brought Morton's 61 day run as a fugitive to an end and both of The Mortons were lodged in jail without bail.

"In its original sentencing position, the Government presented ample evidence of defendant’s obstreperous conduct leading up to and after the trial in this case..." -- Prosecutors in a revised sentencing recommendation on Morton.

Melissa Ann Morton

For her part in the tax scheme, Melissa Morton was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison.  Melissa Morton helped to move and conceal funds she and Sean David Morton fraudulently received from the government after they filed false tax returns multiple times in order to circumvent the IRS computer system.  She also helped to prepare and notarize false tax documents and filed false tax returns.

"[Sean David Morton] is a serial fraudster with a long history of perpetrating financial crimes and wasting precious time and resources of the government and the courts."  -- U.S. Attorney General on Sean David Morton.

The Mortons moved quickly to hide nearly $500,000 they received from the IRS through a fraudulent tax return.  Melissa Morton withdrew $70,000 in cash, opened other bank accounts to funnel funds into, and leased a BMW automobile.  Melissa Morton later lied to investigators about her bank accounts.  The Mortons filed multiple false tax returns attempting to obtain millions in fraudulent returns even though Sean David Morton has no verifiable income.

The Mortons were living it up while filing for
bankruptcy and claiming they were nearly homeless
after they defrauded investors out of $6,000,000
and later were charging people thousands for a
phony debt redemption scheme.

The Mortons charged people thousands of dollars claiming they could eliminate anyone's personal debt through a bonding process.  The Mortons received a letter from the California Tax Franchise Board advising the bonding process they were selling was not legitimate along with warnings from the IRS.

In spite of these warnings and knowing the process did not work, The Mortons continued selling the bonds to people including a woman who paid $2500.00 for The Mortons to erase her massive student loan debt, and an elderly couple who paid The Mortons $10,000 to erase their overwhelming debt.  In both cases, the bond process did not work and The Mortons refused to refund their money.

" I have never stolen from anyone in my life, and I cannot even fathom how someone could risk incurring such karma for base, short term monetary gain."  -- Sean David Morton in 2010 about his being sued by the SEC for defrauding investors.

The Mortons enjoyed season tickets
to USC Trojans football games
while claiming they were broke
and almost homeless in 2015.

In 2010, Morton and his wife were sued by the SEC in a case where The Mortons defrauded $6,000,000 from investors in what SEC officials called a "psychic scheme" where Morton claimed he could use his alleged psychic powers to predict the stock market.  The SEC investigation found very little of the money had actually been invested and The Mortons had diverted investor funds into personal accounts and shell companies.  The SEC also showed that none of Morton's stock market predictions were true nor accurate and Morton's claim of a prestigious financial firm accrediting the investment fund was also false.

The Mortons were ordered to repay nearly $12,000,000 in fines and restitution and were restrained from engaging in trading again.  The Mortons were sued by some of the investors including an elderly woman who lost her life savings in the scheme.

In 2015, The Mortons filed for bankruptcy but their application was denied after bankruptcy officers discovered The Mortons had lied under oath about their financial interests including claiming they paid for everything in cash and did not have bank accounts.  In spite of The Mortons claiming to be nearly destitute and homeless, they still managed to have season USC Trojans football tickets.  The Mortons were also charging people thousands of dollars in their debt redemption scheme and Morton was charging hundreds of dollars for psychic readings.

Click above to read the investigation Sean David Morton tried to suppress.

All he had to do was prove a single false statement had been made. When it came time for Morton to put up, his proof never materialized. Morton only needed to provide the court with a solitary piece of evidence and he couldn't do it."  --ufowatchdog.com editor on Morton's inability to prove any of his claims during a lawsuit Morton filed against ufowatchdog.com.

Morton was exposed in 2001 when ufowatchdog.com published its investigation, The Shameless Psychic and his Prophecy of Lies which exposed Morton's educational background, psychic and other claims as false.   In 2003, Morton attempted to sue ufowatchdog.com claiming the investigation was untrue and libelous.  After failing to prove a single claim in court, Morton lost and was ordered to pay $16,000 in legal fees to ufowatchdog.com.  Morton was directly invited to refute a single claim in the ufowatchdog.com investigation and he failed to do so.

Sean David Morton will be released from federal prion in 2023 and Melissa Ann Morton will be released in 2019.  During the sentencing hearing, Morton  spoke for roughly forty minutes telling the judge he was a sovereign citizen.  Morton told the judge it was a mistake that he represented himself in the trial and asked to be assigned legal counsel.  The judge denied Morton's request for representation and told Morton he explained the legal options available and the dangers of representing himself prior to trial.

The Mortons were both ordered to pay restitution, were ordered to not engage in any financial or debt relief, and will serve five years parole.

#seandavidmorton #psychics #sdm 

Morton's Run As Fugitive Comes to Predictable End

[To websites and social media posters taking this story verbatim and running with as if it was their own, knock it off and stop stealing my work. -- ufowatchdog.com]

UPDATED 08/24 @ 1:15pm - PST

Sean David Morton, the bunk psychic who gained notoriety thanks to late night radio host Art Bell and the Coast To Coast AM show, was taken into custody on Monday (same day as the eclipse) by federal agents from the U.S. Marshal's Service.  Also taken into custody was Morton's wife Melissa Ann Morton.  The arrest ended Sean David Morton's run as a fugitive for the past sixty-one days.

The Morton's were both convicted in early April 2017 on over 50 felony counts involving fraud and conspiracy stemming from their involvement in a tax scheme that netted them thousands of dollars from victims in a straw-man/redemption bonding scheme in which The Mortons told people they could erase anyone's debt.  The Mortons also obtained a nearly $500,000 fraudulent tax refund from the IRS.  When the IRS discovered the mistake and went to retrieve the funds, The Mortons moved quickly to hide the money, withdrew $70,000 in cash, bought a new BMW, and later lied to investigators about bank accounts involved in obtaining and hiding the funds.

Sean David Morton was scheduled to be sentenced on June 19, 2017 but did not appear as ordered by the court, resulting in a warrant being issued for Morton's arrest for failure to appear.  During his time as a fugitive, Morton appeared on a YouTube show claiming he had left the country and was in Iceland.  But several things in the video led ufowatchdog.com to believe Morton was still in the California area and this information was passed on to the Department of Justice.  It was also during this same YouTube interview that Morton claimed there was not a warrant for his arrest.

Morton's co-defendant Melissa Ann Morton (pictured right) was the subject of a conditional release agreement prior to her criminal sentencing next month.  That release agreement included the stipulation she have no contact with Sean David Morton.  The same release agreement also had the condition that federal agents could monitor Melissa Morton's computer and mobile phone.

In spite of the release agreement, documents show Melissa Morton had been in contact with Sean David Morton.  Melissa Morton was arrested on Monday at approximately noon according to records obtained by ufowatchdog.com stating she had been arrested for "violation of pretrial release" and "non-compliance with condition of supervision; contact with fugitive co-defendant".  Sean David Morton was arrested approximately thirty-minutes prior to his wife - it was unclear if they were together when the arrests occurred.

The Mortons were arrested at a hotel in Desert Hot Springs, California on Monday when agents from the IRS and U.S. Marshal's Service tracked Melissa Ann Morton to the location after discovering she'd be meeting with Sean David Morton, both were taken into custody without incident.

The Mortons appeared before a federal magistrate on Tuesday and both were ordered held without bond.  Melissa Morton's criminal sentencing for her conviction in the tax scheme is scheduled for September 19th.  A date for Sean David Morton's sentencing in the tax scheme has yet to be set.

The government has asked that The Mortons be remanded to custody due to them both posing a significant flight risk.  On Tuesday a judge ordered that Sean David Morton be held in custody.  It is unknown when a hearing on Melissa Morton's custody will be held, but she is likely to also be held in custody.  With Melissa Morton having violated her release agreement she must pay $10,000 as she had been released on a signature bond in which the person being released agrees to pay a certain amount if the conditions of the release are violated.

Both Sean David Morton and Melissa Ann Morton were initially lodged at the Federal Metro Detention Center in Los Angeles, but have since been moved to the San Bernardino jail pending their next court appearances.

Sean David Morton was the subject of an in-depth investigation by ufowatchdog.com entitled The Shameless Psychic and his Prophecy of Lies.  The investigation exposed many of Morton's background, UFO, psychic, and educational claims as false.  Morton filed a lawsuit against ufowatchdog.com in 2003 claiming he'd been the subject of libel.  Unable to provide proof of his claims in court, Morton lost the lawsuit and was ordered to pay $16,000 in legal fees to ufowatchdog.com.

Morton and his wife were sued by the SEC in a securities fraud scheme where Morton claimed he could use his so-called psychic powers to predict the stock market.  Investors lost more than $6,000,000 and it was discovered that Morton and his wife had diverted investor funds to their personal and business accounts without investor knowledge. The Mortons were ordered to repay $11.5mil.

Bunk Psychic Absconds from Criminal Sentencing

Bogus psychic and convicted felon Sean David Morton was scheduled to be sentenced today for his part in a tax fraud scheme.  Prosecutors in the case recommended an 87 month term of imprisonment for Morton.

Morton was to appear in a Los Angeles, California federal court today at 11AM (PST) and failed to show up for sentencing.  A source within the United States Attorney General's office confirmed a federal warrant has been issued for Morton's arrest and his current whereabouts are unknown.

Morton and his wife, Melissa Ann Morton, were accused of filing false tax returns and charged victims thousands of dollars claiming their debt could be erased through a bonding process , in spite of knowing the process did not work.  When victims sought refunds upon discovering the process did not work, Morton refused to refund their money plunging them further into debt.

Morton also defrauded the government out of nearly half-a-million dollars by filing a false tax return and forging other tax documents by submitting multiple copies to various IRS offices in an effort to circumvent the IRS's system.  In all, Morton attempted to claim more than $12,000,000 in refunds even though he does not have any verifiable income.

"Defendant reported no income on his financial statement, but monthly expenses of $3,306, with no genuine explanation as to how he meets these expenses."

--United States Parole & Probation report on Morton.

During a 2015 federal bankruptcy hearing, The Mortons lied about their business interests and attempted to mislead bankruptcy officers about their finances, causing their bankruptcy filing to be denied.  Morton filed a number of bizarre motions and arguments during the bankruptcy case including this one.

Agents from the Internal Revenue Service's criminal division began investigating Morton and his wife after Morton filed multiple fraudulent tax returns and documents, including OID (Original Issue Discount) forms he claimed were issued to him by a bank.   Bank employees testified the OID forms were never issued to Morton and an expert witness confirmed the documents submitted by Morton were fraudulent.

The investigation also focused on Morton and his wife obtaining a nearly half-million dollar tax refund they were not entitled to.  The IRS investigation found The Mortons moved quickly to divert the money to different accounts in an effort to hide it from the IRS, which included withdrawing $70,000 in cash and later lying to investigators about their bank accounts.  Part of the money was used by The Mortons to purchase a BMW automobile.

In January 2016, a federal grand jury indicted The Mortons on 56 felony counts including fraud and conspiracy.  In February 2016 while disembarking from a cruise ship, The Mortons were arrested by federal agents and later released after posting a $10,000 bond.  Federal agents also served a search warrant on an apartment The Mortons were living in and seized documents, computers, and other items.

The Mortons entered not guilty pleas and the case went to trial April 2017 with Sean David Morton representing himself while his wife obtained court appointed counsel.  Morton previously claimed to be a "legal and constitutional expert" though he does not have a law degree and is not licensed to practice law.

Morton filed a number of disjointed, rambling briefs and motions with the court prosecutors said were designed to delay the criminal trial.  Those documents submitted to the court included Morton proclaiming himself judge of his own court, stating the courts had no jurisdiction over him, attempting to withdraw his not guilty plea after he'd been convicted, notifying the IRS he did not fall under their rules, filing a state lawsuit in an attempt to stop federal criminal proceedings against him, and more.  A jury took two hours to return guilty verdicts against Morton and his wife on all counts.

"The Court is familiar with the multitude of nonsensical pleadings [Morton] filed and stated in Court throughout the course of this criminal case, which has not abated since his conviction.  [Morton]’s pattern of conduct of filing unintelligible pleadings began weeks after the initial indictment of defendants...The day [Morton] was released from his arrest, he filed unintelligible pleadings..."

--Dept. of Justice attorneys in a brief filed with the court on Morton's barrage of filings.

Morton's filing of numerous motions in an attempt to stall proceedings is a tactic referred to as paper terrorism, in which a person files copious amounts of paperwork to bury the court in order to delay proceedings or hoping for the court to make an error.

At a New Life Expo conference, Morton referred to himself as a paper terrorist claiming he could shut down a court by filing excessive paperwork and lawsuits.  A federal agent was at the conference and recorded Morton making this claim.

Morton's filing of what prosecutors called "unintelligible" and "nonsensical" motions play a part in his sentencing and add to the amount of time he will spend in federal prison if he is ever taken into custody.  When a defendant attempts to stall or otherwise interfere with court proceedings without a legitimate legal basis, it can be considered obstruction of justice in federal court.  In a recommendation to the court, prosecutors requested Morton be imprisoned for 87 months.

Morton's legal shenanigans came to an end when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals notified Morton the court would no longer accept his filings.  Morton asked his sentencing date be changed and the court denied that request.

"Defendant is a serial fraudster with a long history of perpetrating financial crimes and wasting precious time and resources of the government and the courts."  -- U.S. Attorney General counsel on Sean David Morton.

Morton described the case against him as "thought crime" claiming there is a government conspiracy attempting to silence him for self publishing books he says contain information exposing the government.  In spite of this alleged conspiracy to silence him, Morton's books are readily available online and he has freely discussed them on Internet podcasts and videos as well as at conspiracy conferences.

When the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Morton and his wife in 2010 for swindling investors out of more than $6,000,000 in what was called a "psychic scheme", Morton filed an inordinate amount of documents and briefs with the court in an attempt to stop the Securities and Exchange Commission from suing him.  The SEC found The Mortons diverted large sums of investor money into personal and other business accounts including $250,000 Morton put in his Prophecy Research Institute.

Morton publicly claimed his investment account had been certified by a prestigious accounting firm when it had not.   The SEC was successful suing Morton who was ordered to pay back millions.  Morton was also sued by investors including an elderly woman who lost her life savings in the scheme.  It is not known if Morton has paid anything to the SEC or the victims.

Morton was exposed in the ufowatchdog.com investigation The Shameless Psychic and his Porphecy of Lies, in which the majority of Morton's educational and background claims were found to be false.  Morton attempted to sue ufowatchdog.com for $1,000,000 claiming the story was designed to defame him and was untrue.  Morton was only required by law to prove a single false statement had been made.

After failing to show the court any of the information published was untrue, Morton lost the case and was ordered to pay ufowatchdog.com $16,000 in legal fees.  Morton continued disparaging the investigation and failed to respond to a challenge to provide his proof even when directly contacted.

Morton's co-conspirator/wife Melissa Ann Morton (pictured below, left) is scheduled to be sentenced July 24th and she has acquired new legal counsel.

Morton gained notoriety in psychic and conspiracy circles for his fast talking appearances on the popular late night radio program Coast to Coast AM and was heavily promoted by then host Art Bell.

Morton made predictions on the program and claimed to be a UFO insider with government and intelligence contacts.  The majority of Morton's predictions failed to come true and UFO cases endorsed as genuine by Morton were often found to be hoaxes.  Morton advertised himself as the"World's Foremost UFO Researcher".

Morton was later banned from appearing on Coast to Coast AM with current host George Noory after the program was served with a subpoena by the SEC during its investigation into Morton swindling investors out of millions.  Coast to Coast AM and George Noory were not involved in the investment scheme.

Morton's self published biography changed multiple times throughout the years to incorporate areas that were popular at the time.  Morton's original biography was erased from his website in the wake of the ufowatchdog.com investigation being published.  Morton later continued making claims in his biography that have been refuted.

Morton hosted an online streaming radio program and boasted it to be the number one show on the Internet with millions of listeners, though no data could be found to confirm this claim.

Morton wrote and self published a newsletter that later ceased publication amid complaints from subscribers that it was either late or never published.  The newsletter was also a focal point during the SEC investigation due to Morton using it to entice investors.

Touting himself as "simply being the best" psychic in the world, many have wondered why Morton was unable to foresee his future legal troubles.