Friday, February 17, 2006
Money, money, money, money....
Get the money out of adoption and it will be better for ALL parties!!!
Downstate woman charged in adoption scam
The Associated Press
CASEYVILLE, Ill. -- Authorities today were searching for a Caseyville woman accused of allegedly pocketing more than $4,000 by promising her unborn baby to two adoption agencies.
Madison County prosecutors charged Melissa Sparks, 26, on Wednesday with two felony theft counts alleging that she made fraudulent deals to get money and gift cards between last July and November.
Authorities say she portrayed herself as a prospective birth mother to an Indiana woman who sought the baby through Bethany Christian Services in Chicago, as well as to the Family Resource Center Adoption Agency in Chicago.
``You can't be in an agreement with two people to adopt one child,'' Madison County sheriff's Capt. John Lakin said.
When Sparks gave birth in November, she kept the baby, Lakin said.
Pregnant women in Illinois who get gifts from prospective adoptive families or agencies do not legally have to return these gifts if they choose to keep their babies, said Kris Faasse, a national adoption consultant for Bethany Christian Services.
GIFTS!!! AS IF!
But authorities say Sparks ran afoul of the law by obtaining money under fraudulent agreements to give the baby to more than one person or group.
Sparks' bond has been set at $80,000.
Downstate woman charged in adoption scam
The Associated Press
CASEYVILLE, Ill. -- Authorities today were searching for a Caseyville woman accused of allegedly pocketing more than $4,000 by promising her unborn baby to two adoption agencies.
Madison County prosecutors charged Melissa Sparks, 26, on Wednesday with two felony theft counts alleging that she made fraudulent deals to get money and gift cards between last July and November.
Authorities say she portrayed herself as a prospective birth mother to an Indiana woman who sought the baby through Bethany Christian Services in Chicago, as well as to the Family Resource Center Adoption Agency in Chicago.
``You can't be in an agreement with two people to adopt one child,'' Madison County sheriff's Capt. John Lakin said.
When Sparks gave birth in November, she kept the baby, Lakin said.
Pregnant women in Illinois who get gifts from prospective adoptive families or agencies do not legally have to return these gifts if they choose to keep their babies, said Kris Faasse, a national adoption consultant for Bethany Christian Services.
GIFTS!!! AS IF!
But authorities say Sparks ran afoul of the law by obtaining money under fraudulent agreements to give the baby to more than one person or group.
Sparks' bond has been set at $80,000.
# posted by Senior Mom @ 2:18 PM 
Comments:
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well..... what if she didn't know which family to pick???? Isn't that part of the adoption security, is checking out more than one adoptive family? Can she help it if they all want to buy her baby?
excellent point...she is ENCOURAGED to "shop around"... she certainly can't help it if they want to ply her with GIFTS!
AND...more importantly - neither of them would have complained had they gotten what they wanted.
It's OK to pay for a baby - it's just not OK to get ripped off doing so!!!
That's like calling the cops and complaining cause you paid your drug dealer and got beat drugs...and the cops taking your case seriosuly and not arresting YOU!
Only in adoption! It's like a backwards world skit on SNL!
Would be commical, if chidlren's lives weren't at stake.
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AND...more importantly - neither of them would have complained had they gotten what they wanted.
It's OK to pay for a baby - it's just not OK to get ripped off doing so!!!
That's like calling the cops and complaining cause you paid your drug dealer and got beat drugs...and the cops taking your case seriosuly and not arresting YOU!
Only in adoption! It's like a backwards world skit on SNL!
Would be commical, if chidlren's lives weren't at stake.
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