Woman stole $285,000 from nuns, spent it on lingerie and pet sitting, feds say

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FBI agents have arrested a Tustin woman on suspicion of stealing $285,000 from Catholic nuns and using the money to buy lingerie and other personal items.

Linda Rose Gagnon, 57, is accused of stealing the money from the U.S. Province of the Religious of Jesus & Mary Inc., a group of Catholic nuns, in 2008 after saying she would use it to buy a house in San Diego. The house was to be used as a residence for retired nuns.

Gagnon told the nuns that her Tustin company, Rose Enterprise Inc., could purchase foreclosed properties at a discount, according to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury Wednesday. Neither Gagnon nor her company were licensed real estate brokers, the indictment said.

Instead of buying a house in San Diego, federal prosecutors said, Gagnon used the nuns’ money to buy lingerie, make car payments and pay for pet sitting and other personal expenses.

Gagnon surrendered to FBI agents Monday. She was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon on three counts of wire fraud. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 60 years in federal prison.

-- Stuart Pfeifer