SACRAMENTO, Mar. 4 – Former Manson cultist Catherine “Gypsy” Como is sought by U.S. postal inspectors and the FBI in connection with a credit card fraud which has bilked Northern California merchants out of more than $200.000 in merchandise.

Como, 36, wife of imprisoned Manson cultist Kenneth Como, is suspected of directing the operation in which the merchandise was purchased through phony credit card orders placed over the telephone.

Some sources estimate the amount of money lost by merchants could go as high as $1 million.

Mrs. Como is sought by the FBI on a $20,000 bench warrant issued by a federal judge in Sacramento on a charge of bail jumping. She also is wanted on a $25,000 warrant for fleeing a car theft charge in Sacramento County.

The latter charge involves the al-leged making of a false statement on a loan application at a Carmichael bank.

“She fled the area because she knew the sky was about to fall on her,” an FBI spokesman said.

She reportedly fled Feb. 5 following her indictment on the false statement charge and after putting up an expensive sports car as collateral for $10,000 bail posted by a Los Angeles bail bondsman.

The credit card fraud apparently has been in operation since 1977, federal authorities said, with Mrs. Como using as many as eight unwitting young persons to work the scheme.

Investigators said they believe the operation was started in Stockton by Mrs. Como and has shifted to Roseville, Woodland, Redwood City, Ceres and San Jose and Sacramento.

The scheme involves the use of names and numbers secretively obtained from other persons credit cards and then ordering the merchandise by telephone, investigators said.