The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A lawyer in Texas who runs an adoption agency was arrested when the authorities reported that they found she was trying to purchase unborn babies from prison inmates.
According to reports, earlier this summer, the authorities in Tarrant County opened an investigation to determine whether pregnant inmates in the county jail had been in contact with a woman asking to adopt their babies. They believed the party offered illegal compensation while trying to strongarm some of the expectant mothers into agreeing to the arrangement.
The arrest warrant states that the investigation led them to interactions between the 68-year-old woman, who founded Adoptions International, Inc.. This agency operates worldwide and helps to match orphaned infants with adoptive parents. They also learned that the agency’s accreditation was canceled in 2019 due to a failure to comply with standards.
It was suspected that more than one inmate was involved, and a 29-year-old pregnant woman’s jail tablet was checked for potential evidence. They reported that the first contact between the inmate and the suspect was in the middle of March. She allegedly said she would put money on the pregnant woman’s books and asked her to call so they could talk. They reported that over $800 had been added to the inmate account.
Ultimately, the woman and the father of the child decided to keep their child, and the suspect allegedly threatened to report her for lying and scamming for money.
On July 23, a trooper from the Texas Department of Safety went to the woman’s residence with an arrest warrant. She was taken into custody and booked into the Hays County Jail on suspicion of two third-degree felony charges of sale or purchase of a child. She was later released after posting a $50,000 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.