Gambler charged with defrauding her mother and son

A Vallejo woman faces 15 felony charges in Colusa County, including elder abuse, fraud and forgery.

Imelda Laron Paman, 55, allegedly made dozens fraudulent deposits and withdrawals between June 17 and July 7 from the Colusa branch of Umpqua Bank, Colusa District Attorney Investigator Pamela Craig said Wednesday.

The elder abuse charge applies, Craig said, because one of the alleged fraud victims is more than 65-years-old.

Writing bad checks and making fraudulent withdrawals from three accounts – her own, her son’s and her mother’s - Paman allegedly defrauded the bank of $8,542.54.

Paman used the funds to gamble at Colusa Casino Resort, Craig said.

“(Paman) admitted that she has a gambling problem,” she added.

She is charged with eight counts of check forgery, five counts of knowingly passing checks with non-sufficient funds and one count of elder abuse, all felonies.

If convicted, Paman could face more than 40 years in state prison.

Umpqua Bank fraud investigator Christina Russell contacted Colusa Police Aug. 15 regarding the alleged fraud.

Russell told investigators that Paman made several promises to repay the bad debts over the summer, but instead continued to accumulate additional charges, Craig said.

Paman’s son, Christian Laron Lugtu, 20, is on active military duty in Washington state. He told investigators that he did not give his mother permission to use the account and said it was closed several years ago.

Paman’s mother, Socorro Sotto Laron, 77, of Vallejo, said she was unaware of the withdrawals and purchases her daughter made on her account, Craig said. The bank credited Laron’s account, since they believed she was a victim, she added.

Laron told Craig she feels victimized, but said the family would like to make restitution if it would keep Paman out of trouble, Craig said.

During a court appearance Tuesday, public defender Albert Smith was appointed to represent Paman. She is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 17 and is expected to enter a plea.

Contact Rob Parsons at 458-2121 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.