Branch Davidian Paul Fatta Imprisoned For 12 Years Speaks For The First Time After Gag Order [wOc VVbLmJU]

00:31 Good morning, how's everybody doing? I just wanted to say that everybody here has their own connection to the Branch Davidians. And you all have your own story that is just as important as mine maybe more important but uh... i'm going to tell you a little bit about how I came to know the Branch Davidians. I lived in Hawaii for eight years and uh... I come from a family of entrepreneurs We've always been into businesses, my grandfather and my dad. So I was there as a member of the Adventist church for those who are familiar with the Seventh-day Adventists. I was the head deacon in that church. I had been at that church for almost five years and one evening I was invited to go to a Bible study

01:30 at the Diamond Head Seventh-day Adventist Church one evening. And I went there, and there was a young man giving a presentation... Anyways during his presentation some of the elders in the church came over and stopped the Bible study he was giving It kind of bothered me because I'd never seen that spirit in the Adventist Church before this kinda like censorship And they said, well this isn't really doctrine of the church and this needs to be taken to the leadership. They will decide if we the members can listen to that. I was like there's something wrong with that because...I have a Bible, I have a mind, I can make up my own mind if what he is presenting is right or wrong

02:25 That was my connection right there when that happened. I wasn't necessarily agreeing with what was being presented in the Bible study, I just didn't like the fact that they were stopping him and not letting him continue so...I got involved. They disbanded the Bible study and So I told people if you want to come into my house You're more than welcome to continue this So again, I wasn't necessarily agreeing with it but I thought the guy should be able to say what he wanted to say and people make up their own minds.

03:05 my first connection to the message, if you want to call it that. So they started having Bible studies at my house I really wasn't involved, I had two roommates and it kind of went on... And eventually I was like hey this guy has something! I always wanted to know the book of Revelation, the prophecies, I had a lot of questions but also as running a business I have 75 employees I was a homeowner, I drove nice cars and Mercedes. For young guy had everything going for me but one thing is that I tried to be honest. I figured out I don't want to be hypocrite if I'm part of this organization then I want to know the truth and thats why i am there so

03:56 I started listening to what he had to say and eventually, you know it would take hours to give this whole story. And the short version...I don't want to go into that but eventually I talked to Steve Schneider and we got a plane ticket and found out, well there's this guy he is from Texas. And I'm like Texas? Luke! There is truth in Texas?! So I said, my words are that I want to get it from the horse's mouth because the person who was in Hawaii actually got Bible studies from Perry Jones of David

04:34 So I was like, let's go down there ourselves. And we got plane tickets and we flew down and finally I went to Miss Loma Linda University and Dave who was there and they pointed me out to who he was. I just went out stood behind him. I listened to him give this presentation a couple of young people. And I'm like yeah everything seems You know, he kind of had long hair. He kind of looked a little weird but I try not to judge people by their appearance when I hear what they have to say So eventually uh...I went back and met David. I got a 13 hour bible study which sounds like a long time but it was pretty exciting. I could never repeat it But uh..it was like truth that I'd never heard or experienced

05:27 So I had to end up flying back to Hawaii after that. Steve stayed there in LA and eventually David came to Hawaii and there was a big controversy. The islands, it was pretty crazy when truth comes there's a division and a lot of controversy so eventually I made a decision you know i was like well if I don't want to be a hypocrite this is true then I want to pursue it fully and check out

06:03 So people thought I was nuts. Here I was, I had a business that was grossing six million dollars a year. I had a house and everything I could want so why walk away from that? But again, I didn't wanna be a hypocrite if you're part of an organization, you're there for the truth And...so I left! And I ended up here in Texas. For me the whole reason of coming to Texas, it wasn't because I like the state or the terrain or anything. It was all about the truth even Mount Carmel Center

06:49 You know, we roughed it there. It looks a little bit nicer now but we were there because of the truth and that's what the property was about those of you that have been there was about people who is about The reason why are they're will be more dirty work? But so I don't know that's my experience and then the day at the actual Without getting into all the details, the day of the raid for those who don't know I was at a gun and trade show in Austin Texas. And i'd been there like when? Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday was the last day well Sunday February 28th uh...I left in the morning to go back to Austin so the raid took place when I was gone

07:45 and I came back, and the perimeter they already had sealed off the perimeter. They wouldn't let me in so i ended up getting a motel here in Waco. I tried to call out to the property but couldn't get through. And I think I ended up calling Maribel where she's at Yeah, I ended up calling...I talked to you. I don't know if you remember because i couldn't get in touch with anybody and you're the one that told me what happened and I was kind of shocked because I didn't know anything And I started, I don't know. I went out and turned on the radio and started going through it and then I heard David on that AM radio station doing that interview It was kind of like weird that I just turned it and there he was listening to that So then

08:43 You know, I didn't know what to do. I got a motel room...I think i called the sheriff's department to find out what was going on and who is in charge of this and they were like hey the feds took over we had nothing to do with this they were actually kind of apologetic about it They're like hey you didn't have nothing to do with that so I ended up getting a motel got on the radio, just monitored what was going on. Tried to speak out to the media when I could to kind of rectify a lot of the false things they were telling and then eventually...I had a warrant for my arrest They put me on America's Most Wanted It's a long story but I ended up having my son with me I took him to Vegas to drop him off at his mother and I ended in the Northwest

09:35 There's a lot. But anyways, with Clive... I know Clive likes to focus and you know, I'm sad for people that pass away and suffer but I don't want to live to be 92. You know? I want God to do something. I want to get out of this, you know? And it's bad. It's...you miss your friends and the people that were around but I try to believe in a better place and I'm going to see him again. So rather than focus on the loss, I want to focus on...I'm gonna see him again and be a little more positive instead of doing what we do but

10:22 I guess there's a place for that. So, I don't know...I'll just leave it open if you have any questions because I want to stay up here all day but does anybody have anything they want to ask or are curious about? Go ahead. Yeah, hi Paul. Hi Laura! You probably remember me from back and forth. What gave was it that you heard about the raid Was it on the same day? Well, yeah. I was actually at The GED Show in Austin Texas so...I had to pack everything up and I had-the 28th is actually my birthday So that day I have my son with me he was like 14 at the time And we were gonna go get a pizza or something after we were done with this show So I didn't know anything until I came all way back and I don't know if that road goes out to Mount Carmel where

11:17 When we had the shop there, where we were working on cars. Well they wouldn't let me through but that day it was raining a lot and I thought well maybe it's flooding? I didn't know...I was clueless. I didn't know what happened so I think once I got on the phone and started calling I didn't know until, I think, I talked to Maribel and that's... she is the one who told me when it happened. I think she said there was a raid people were killed you know this and that It was like that's what i found out so it was already maybe seven o'clock at night already? It was dark. It was already in the evening

11:57 Yes. If you weren't even on the premises, what did they charge you with? They charged me with everything conspiracy to murder federal agents, aiding and abetting murder of federal agents, carrying a weapon during the commission of crime... What was the other one? Conspiracy to manufacture automatic weapons, aiding and abetting manufacturing of automatic weapons I had about six counts How are you treating him now? It's like a five-star hotel. Actually, as far as the prisoners and inmates because of all the what was being put on the media I think they were scared of us but that was at county jail but it actually got into this system...I think a lot of the inmates

12:59 Though they didn't understand, they respected us because they were like... A lot of them have been done wrong by the system, so it was like here's a group that actually stood up for themselves. And they were like I wish I could be part of your church. You're some people that believe in something and you stood together and fought for what...you took a stand for what you believe in and they respected that. So there was..that was a good aspect of it but There's a lot of predators and prisoners the bad aspect too, so it's not all You know all good. You just got to take it Anybody else have questions?

13:48 Go ahead. How many times were you moved around? In federal prison or I started in Oklahoma City like El Reno and then from there, I was transferred to FCI Latina in New Mexico and then I think I did like three or four years there Then I went to FCI Stafford in Arizona. I was there about four years I was three years in Latina and then uh, then i got transferred to uh Lompoc California. Was there for about four years and that's where I was released. Do you remember Eva? The name sounds familiar. We stayed at her house in Northern Idaho in 80 Lake and Cotty

14:37 I stayed there. Oh, Eva down in the basement? Yeah. See like i said there's a whole other story that I don't want to take up all the time but it was kind of strange. All these people helping me that I didn't even know. They eventually poisoned her and killed her. She was a beautiful lady she was like when I met She had my red hair and she invited me, she had an apartment like down in her basement of her house. And it was like a complete...and she told me to stay here as long as this is during the standoff that they were helping me. That's when I was on America's Most Wanted and I was being searched by the FBI, ATF, Texas Rangers but

15:29 She told me, stay here as long as you want. Don't turn yourself in. I was like unbelievable that she would risk her own self to have me stay there but i got moved and wasn't there long. I got moved somewhere else Yes? When you were in various MCRs, were you in with any other branch of Indians at the same time? No. They said well when we went to El Reno we were together and I remember we were there and we all got stripped down into our underwear it was like about a hundred guys that's kind of like the transfer center where they process you and then you get sent out

16:13 I remember the guard there was, you know the term redneck but those kind of guys big. And so they were like who here has 30 years? Who has 20? People were raising their hand and said who here is a branch Davidian which why would they ask that you know it's like... It's kinda exposing me because I didn't know the reaction with this system cause I'm standing with bunch you know, prisoners. And I thought oh no it's kind of exposing who we are and then he goes oh we got a bunch of what did they say? Oh cop killers that's what they yelled out to all these people and i was like oh no

17:04 But after, all these guys start coming up and shaking hands. So I was just really surprised you know? They're like hey! You know so what i thought was going to be a bad situation... So the question was we were together and then that's when we all got sent out to different institutions throughout the country because there are federal prisons I don't know of every state, but... I think that I'm the only one who got sent by myself. The rest of them, I think got sent out with twos Two of them went What are you doing now? Well uh..I manage a restaurant When i got out my family was in San Diego My dad and son My son is 32 now He actually has two restaurants So when I came back You have to get a job

18:03 and so I ended up at the Hathaway house. So, uh...I started as a dishwasher and you know your family my family's not really I'm kind of always been not a rebel, but you know they're all Catholics. I joined the Adventist Church and they're not into that They're not really buying into the whole thing about Mount Carmel and why it was there But that's their opinion. I still do what I do So when I got out, they thought well you're somebody that's been in prison for like almost 13 years and uh... They didn't know what to expect. So i guess I had to kind of prove myself You know? I'm the same person but experience is part of my experience so now I run the place But..so I work six days a week at his new restaurant

19:06 We actually have two now. Anybody else? Anything at all? I did notice that you said you were released in California? Yes. They're supposed to release you where your case is from, but actually my number was from Houston because I flew from Spokane Washington like you are right I was in Coeur d'Alene Idaho That's where people were helping me and kind of hiding me To this day i've never talked to an FBI agent or an ATF agent

19:43 I was always like one step ahead of them, so they never found me. So when I flew in my lawyers from Houston, so I flew from Spokane to Houston Texas and uh...So that's where my number is from they give you a number When your released from prison they're supposed to send you back you know, where you're from. But they wouldn't allow an ELIS to come back to Waco so I had Because my family was in San Diego, I put in for that so I could be released there. There's halfway houses all over the US and I had a six month halfway house period and basically you live there or you go to work... It's actually worse than prison at half way house but

19:06 We actually have two now. Anybody else? Anything at all? I did notice that you said you were released in California? Yes. They're supposed to release you where your case is from, but actually my number was from Houston because I flew from Spokane Washington like you are right I was in Coeur d'Alene Idaho That's where people were helping me and kind of hiding me To this day i've never talked to an FBI agent or an ATF agent

19:43 I was always like one step ahead of them, so they never found me. So when I flew in my lawyers from Houston, so I flew from Spokane to Houston Texas and uh...So that's where my number is from they give you a number When your released from prison they're supposed to send you back you know, where you're from. But they wouldn't allow an ELIS to come back to Waco so I had Because my family was in San Diego, I put in for that so I could be released there. There's halfway houses all over the US and I had a six month halfway house period and basically you live there or you go to work... It's actually worse than prison at half way house but

20:40 So I wasn't allowed to come back here. They have a lot of stipulations, you can't leave the county You have to fill out a financial form, they have to know everything Money your making If you spend money on over $500 they have to know about it so you have to jump through a lot of hoops To keep them happy if you don't they'll send you back to prison How long did they forcibly keep you from Whitecap? Three years, I had three years of supervised release. So that would end in May last year

21:16 So now I'm done. I've got no paper, I'm finished with them so...I can do what I want to do. Sure! I'll get a house on the same street as my judge. I'l have a big party. Is that how dancers do the line? How's your finger? Well, it's been stretched to different dimensions. I think a lot of times people say... you know sometimes I feel like it is God's work. For me, for a lot of my faith, You guys are going to remember when we were in prison and that was a tough experience but thats why I can take the opportunity now as to thank those who reached out and wrote and had words of encouragement

22:17 I think God inspired you so, you know, I want to thank all of you for what you did. It really did help to get you through because it was a tough experience but as far as you say faith... You know the Bible says that Christ is our author and finisher of our faith sometimes i think its Job to do it more than mine. I mean, I think we have opportunities Truth is presented you Make decisions you contemplate you pray about it It's a personal experience. I think each one of you between you and God I try not to judge anybody

23:06 This is Jeff Davis show live on location Waco Texas 19 April 2010. Visiting today with Waco Branch Division Mr Paul Fata and Paul I have basically one question for first off how long were you in prison? I was in prison for 12 years, 7 months. Okay. What charges? The original charges were conspiracy to commit murder against federal agents aiding and abetting murder of federal agents carrying a weapon during the commission of crime

23:47 conspiracy to manufacture automatic weapons and aiding and abetting the manufacturing of automatic weapons. Okay, now where were you on the first day of the attack on Waco? I was actually 100 miles away in Austin Texas And did you ever go to the Mount Carmel facility during any of the 51 days? No, I did not. When I came back from Austin that evening the perimeter was already secured they wouldn't allow me past... They had a barrier there outside probably two miles back from the property Okay now how then

24:30 The main question then is how do you go from being charged with all these conspiracies that kill federal agents and all this stuff when you're a hundred miles away at a gun show in Austin, Texas? How does that... Well I mean it's the way the law is. They say if you have knowledge of something they are going to hold you as responsible as the person who pulls the trigger but You got to remember it was a pretty political trial. They needed their pound of flesh, there was a certain amount of survivors younger people like myself at the time I was in my early 30's so they had to take and get their pound of flesh and they wanted somebody to be responsible for what happened And it just happened that they uh...they got this small group of people that survived So then I was one of them. So the bottom line is you spent 12 years in prison

25:27 for these phony charges. And you weren't even on location at Mount Carmel during any of the 51 days? No, I wasn't. It was a political trial. They were trying to find make somebody responsible for the tragedy they didn't want to take responsibility for their actions, so They put these charges on There was 12 of us and we fought for our innocence We went through the judicial system. We hoped that there would be justice served and You saw the outcome I guess it wasn't justice but

26:10 You know, we try to leave it in God's hands at this point and be thankful that we're here where we are now. You have an incredible story. I tried but thank you very much for this. Alright, alright thank you!