• One-time Cultist Sought for Fraud in Roseville Office

One-time Cultist Sought for Fraud in Roseville Office

ROSEVILLE, Calif., Oct. 11 – A former member of the Charles Manson family has been charged with operating a fraudulent business scheme at a rented office in Roseville’s Old Town.

Catherine Louise “Gypsy” Como, a one-time follower of cult leader and convicted murder Manson, rented an office at 107 Main St. from February to April 1978, according to an indictment filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento.

Como used illegally obtained credit card numbers to order merchandise from the office, then sold the merchandise or used it herself, the indictment said.

David Plumb, owner of the office building, said he was unaware of who Como was or what she was doing until after she left.

“She told me she was operating some sort of a family services agency,” Plumb said

“I didn’t have any idea until the federal investigators questioned me about it.”

A gold coin necklace from Houston, a Brentwood rocking chair and camera equipment were among items delivered to the office, according to the indictment.

Published reports have linked the fraud scheme to plans for freeing Manson and members of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), the group that kidnapped newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst in 1974.

Manson, leader of a Southern California cult group known as “The Family,” was convicted of ordering the murder of actress Sharon Tate, businessman Leno LaBianca and six others in Los Angeles in 1969.

A federal postal official, however, said the connection between Como and the two criminal organizations is “absurd.” He said Como is no longer an active member of the Manson family.

“She couldn’t care less about Manson or the SLA members,” the official said.

Como is wanted on charges of fraudulent use of credit cards, mail fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property and for skipping bail on a previous arrest. She had been arrested for giving false information on a bank loan form.

Federal officials have estimated Como raised about $100,000 through the scheme.

Como used the name Suzanne Bronson to rent the of Feb. 15, 1978, supposedly for a mail receiving-for-warding business, the federal indictment said.

The business was listed as Aramco Family Services.

An unidentified woman was hired to act as receptionist and to sign for parcel deliveries at the office, according to the indictment. Como also hired Peggy Marie Goodwin to take the parcels to Coma’s Sacramento home, the indictment said.

Other cities listed in the indictment include Sacramento, Carmichael, Woodland, Ceres, Redwood City, Sin Jose and Phoenix, Ore.

By JAN EMERSON

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