Raphael Holoman-Franklin (as many Cambridge, MA residents learned in 2008) is a multi-state scam artist and thief. Holoman-Franklin uses religion and political involvement to ingratiate himself to people. He then "borrows" money or rents and sublets apartments and houses from them, pockets the money, and flees. Holoman-Franklin was back in Cambridge in 2009, and attempted to "move in" with a family on Essex Street, just a few doors down from the home of scamming victims from last year. They asked him to leave after becoming suspicious of him and checking his background. Holoman-Franklin moves around a lot (understandably) and manages to find victim after victim.
After scamming Cambridge residents in 2008, Holoman-Franklin fled to Peru,Illinois and "hid out" at St. Bede Roman Catholic Abbey on pretense of wanting to become a monk. (see victim's blog for details)The abbot asked him to leave after victims contacted him. Rafe told people at the abbey that he was "going to England to see his (mythical) mother". He in fact first went to a parish in the Chicago area, told people there that he was a monk at St. Bede's, and borrowed money from at least two individuals with that lie. He then returned to Cambridge, MA using that money, and tried to get into the home of a 2008 scamming victim.
Before Rafe left St. Bede Abbey,the abbot contacted Clifford Truesdell of Cambridge, MA, one of Holoman-Franklin's 2008 victims. Recently, Mr. Truesdell received another letter from the abbot:
Dear Mr. Truesdell,
I have heard little about our friend Raphael since I last contacted you. The local police did not follow through on their promise to investigate further the Seattle matter, and the chief did not return my phone call to inquire about it.
I have, however, had a couple of phone calls. One was from a Mormon bishop in Massachusetts, who inquired in September about Raphael's presence here. I answered his questions truthfully, but then heard nothing further. Now, however, I have received an e-mail asking me to confirm the contents of a letter that I wrote last June to you and which has been posted on an internet blog by you, I think, or by Mr. Jaegerstaetter. I confirmed that the letter is accurately quoted and does represent our experience.
I seized the opportunity to ask about Raphael's Mormon membership. Bishop Karl Haglund responded that Raphael was baptized at their temple in Manhattan in 2007, and then participated regularly in their services in Montreal. He came to their church in Cambridge only
once before leaving for Illinois, presumably in 2008. In August of 2009 he contacted one of their members seeking help in finding a roommate and/or an apartment. After this they discovered your blog. The bishop says that he intends to call you.
Another phone call came some time ago, perhaps in October, from a Catholic lady (whose name I did not get) in Fort Dodge, IA. Raphael was there at the time, and was already known to them, as he had been there before. I think she said that he has a relative in the town. He told them
that he was now a monk at St. Bede Abbey, and she wanted to verify that, as she was somewhat suspicious of him. This was at least partly because he had borrowed money from a couple of members of the parish, herself included. She did not expect that it would be repaid, especially after she heard what I told her.
Bishop Haglund had another bit of information. He had succeeded in talking on the phone to a detective in the Seattle police department, who confirmed orally that they have an outstanding warrant on Raphael from 1999 for passing bad checks. They will not, however, confirm
warrants in writing.
A few more tidbits for your dossier.
Abbot Claude (Pfeiffer)
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