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The Dark Side of Private Investigation: The Case of Eric Saldarriaga

The Dark Side of Private Investigation: The Case of Eric Saldarriaga

The case of Eric Saldarriaga, a New York private investigator sentenced to three months in prison for conspiracy to commit computer hacking, underscores the ethical challenges and legal violations that can arise within the private investigation industry. Between 2009 and 2015, Saldarriaga hired hackers to gain unauthorized access to at least 60 email accounts. Among his victims were high-profile critics of the Church of Scientology, including journalist Tony Ortega and former Scientology spokesman Mike Rinder. This case not only revealed misconduct but also raised troubling questions about the influence of powerful organizations and the ethical lapses of private investigators. Tragically, Saldarriaga’s life ended prematurely when he died of esophageal cancer in 2017.

The Case: Unlawful Conduct and High-Profile Victims

Saldarriaga's actions included hiring overseas hackers to retrieve login credentials for email accounts connected to his investigative cases and personal interests. Victims such as Tony Ortega and Mike Rinder publicly linked the Church of Scientology to the hacking campaign, though no direct charges were brought against the organization.

According to court documents, Saldarriaga cooperated with the FBI by participating in controlled calls to implicate his clients. However, the investigation failed to extend beyond Saldarriaga, leaving broader questions about his clients' involvement unanswered.

A victim impact statement submitted by Tony Ortega during Saldarriaga’s sentencing provides crucial insight into the case. In the statement, Ortega expressed frustration that the investigation did not address the organization likely behind the hacking.

While Ortega stated he did not seek severe punishment for Saldarriaga, he emphasized the importance of uncovering those who orchestrated the crime.

Ortega described the hacking as an attempt to undermine his work as a journalist reporting on Scientology, further emphasizing the chilling effect such actions could have on the free press.

A Tragic End

After serving his sentence, Saldarriaga faced further challenges. In 2016, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and died on October 23, 2017, a day before his 44th birthday. He left behind a wife and two young sons. Ortega’s reporting on The Underground Bunker highlighted the pressure Saldarriaga may have faced, speculating that he could have been manipulated into taking the fall for powerful clients. The case illustrates the personal toll of ethical breaches and the stress associated with high-profile investigations.

Lessons for Private Investigators

Eric Saldarriaga’s case underscores several critical lessons for private investigators:

Adherence to Legal and Ethical Standards: Violating privacy laws for personal or professional gain undermines the legitimacy of private investigators and erodes public trust. Saldarriaga’s willingness to cross legal boundaries serves as a cautionary tale for investigators to prioritize lawful practices.

Transparency with Clients: The potential influence of powerful entities like Scientology highlights the importance of vetting clients and maintaining transparency about the scope and limits of investigative work.

The Role of Professional Associations: Professional associations must emphasize ethical training and provide support for investigators facing high-pressure or ethically ambiguous situations. Greater regulatory oversight could prevent similar misconduct.

Mental Health and Professional Support: The stress and public scrutiny following legal and professional challenges likely contributed to Saldarriaga’s mental and physical health decline. Providing mental health resources and fostering a supportive professional network are critical to preventing such outcomes.

Industry Implications and Reforms

The fallout from Saldarriaga’s actions has tarnished the reputation of private investigators, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and ethical guidelines.

Licensing boards and industry leaders must ensure that investigators are equipped to handle ethical dilemmas and are held accountable for their actions.

Additionally, stronger oversight and enforcement mechanisms are necessary to prevent abuses of power.

Eric Saldarriaga’s story is a cautionary tale of ethical lapses, external pressures, and personal tragedy.

His involvement in unlawful activities and connections to powerful organizations illustrate the risks faced by private investigators who deviate from ethical and legal norms.

The case serves as a reminder that integrity, mental health, and accountability must remain central to the profession. By addressing these challenges, the private investigation industry can rebuild public trust and uphold its commitment to lawful and ethical practices.

References

Sophos News. (2015, June 29). Private eye jailed for hacking email of Scientology critics and others. Retrieved from https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2015/06/29/private-eye-jailed-for-hacking-email-of-scientology-critics-and-others/

Tampa Bay Times. (2015, June 26). Court records link Scientology to convicted email hacker. Retrieved from https://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/court-records-link-scientology-to-convicted-email-hacker/2235273/

Farenga Funeral Home. (2017). Obituary for Eric Saldarriaga. Retrieved from https://www.farengafuneralhome.com/obituaries/Eric-Saldarriaga?obId=30778152

Ortega, T. (2018, November 15). Eric Saldarriaga, private eye who took the fall for Scientology: 1973-2017. The Underground Bunker. Retrieved from https://tonyortega.org/2018/11/15/eric-saldarriaga-private-eye-who-took-the-fall-for-scientology-1973-2017/#google_vignette

Scribd. (2015). Tony Ortega Victim Impact Statement re: Eric Saldarriaga. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/269682128/Tony-Ortega-Victim-Impact-Statement-re-Eric-Saldarriaga

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Bedford Cheese Shop | Gramercy Park, NYC (at Bedford Cheese Shop Manhattan)

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#NYPL certified! (at NYC Public Library 40th street 5 th avenue)

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nice!

Out and about with Julien Douvier

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gorgeous

This corrosion, Seung-Hwan OH

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Is creativity related to mobility? New report from the MacArthur Foundation reveals that MacArthur “geniuses” are significantly more likely to move over the course of their careers. A year ago, Accurat discovered at a similar pattern among the world’s most prominent scientists. 

(via Hyperallergic)

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My brother is going to love this!

And just when you thought you were too old to enjoy the outdoors,Stick-lets comes along. Sure, they’re meant to help kids get back outside and build forts with sticks, but who says you can’t enjoy them too? 

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Ideum Dynamic Desktop

Price: NA

Minority Report and Star Wars tech are closer to reality than you think. Ideum, the software and multi-touch hardware company, has developed the future workplace with a projected capacitive touch table that interacts with both hand gestures and tangible objects. 

Move a coffee mug and create an “attached” sound widget that plays your music. Drop in your smartphone and automatically have it synced to your interactive table to drag and drop files and media to be shared to your social networks or storage drives. These are some of the infinite examples of cutting edge innovation that Ideum’s product has to offer. One can only imagine how this could be incorporated into schools, office spaces, or even transportation. 

Link

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this is art

Drawings by Olivia Knapp

Olivia Knapp’s intricate hand drawn pen and ink style is influenced by European line engravings of decorative relief and scientific specimens from the 16th to 18th centuries. Her tight cross hatching technique involves long slow and steady curved lines that articulate the surface contours of her subjects; creating supple and tangible imagery. These un-swelled lines incorporate a “line to dot” rendering method as well as an, extremely rare “dot and lozenge” rendering method. “Dot and lozenge” is a practice that was used by 16th century masters, in which a dot is placed in the center of a diamond shape made by a cross hatching pattern, helping to refine the transition between values.

Most of Olivia’s content explores the relationship between desire, reason, and circumstance. Her current body of work uses the head and heart as contrasting characters in an on going story.

My Amp Goes To 11: Twitter | Instagram

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day dreaming :)

Calvin and Hobbes

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Does Beauty Matter?

Artist James Victore Tours Brooklyn and Queens, New York on a ‘Type Safari’ of Signs and Advertising

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wonderful explanation of wisdom vs. knowledge

Wisdom in the Age of Information – an animated essay

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https://medium.com/matter/louisiana-loses-its-boot-b55b3bd52d1e

Louisiana Loses Its Boot

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My dog-brother Dutch! Isn't he fabulous?!?

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My knot. (Taken with Instagram at Florencia 13)

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Road Stripes (Taken with Instagram)