& Watkins characterized Slatkin's explanations as "shameful" and having "sold the psychiatrists a bill of goods". In July 2013, he was released from a halfway house in Long Beach, California. On June 23, 2015, journalist Tony Ortega reported on his website that Slatkin had died from a heart attack. Ortega said that he had confirmation of Slatkin's death from Slatkin's ex-wife. In popular culture In February 2008, the television show American Greed featured the Slatkin case, which it titled "Stealing $$$ from Scientologists". References External links Reed E. Slatkin sentenced to 14 years for running a $600 million Ponzi scheme and obstructing justice. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Litigation Release No. 18323, September 4, 2003. Reed Slatkin Media Resource Bankruptcy site set up by a group of Slatkin investors Top 75 Net gainers of Slatkin ponzi scheme 1949 births American money launderers People convicted of obstruction of justice 20th-century American Jews American Scientologists Cranbrook Educational Community alumni Pyramid and Ponzi schemes Scientology-related controversies American people convicted of fraud American businesspeople convicted of crimes 2015 deaths American members of the clergy convicted of crimes 21st-century American Jews