Florida woman accused in adoption scam lied to authorities

Florida woman accused in adoption scam lied to authorities
By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

http://www.bradenton.com/331/story/116160.html

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. --
Florida investigators were stymied in 1999 while investigating child
abuse claims against a woman now accused in an adoption scam because New
York officials couldn't find any record of her then.

Judith Leekin was charged last month with abusing 11 adopted children
and using them to line her pockets with $1.26 million in stipends she
received to help care for them. But she first came to authorities
attention eight years ago.

The Florida Department of Children & Families began an investigation
into her after receiving tips that she was abusing children she adopted
from New York. Florida authorities then contacted the New York City
Administration for Children's Services, according to records unsealed by
a judge Monday.

In a Feb. 22, 1999, letter to the New York agency, a Florida
investigator wrote, "I am trying to locate 11 children who are
reportedly in her (Leekin's) care at this time."

The Florida DCF investigator included in the letter three aliases for
Leekin and two Social Security numbers and requested any information
about Leekin being a foster parent or having adopted children in New York.

The New York agency responded that it had "no active records on Judith
in the system," according to the 1999 DCF report. DCF closed the case
without finding any evidence of abuse.

Florida officials had no immediate comment Tuesday.

"We're still looking into all aspects of this investigation," said
Sheila Stainback, a spokeswoman for the New York City agency. She
declined further comment.

Authorities believe Leekin may have been able to fool the New York City
system because it wasn't until 1999 that adoption agencies there began
requiring fingerprints from prospective parents.

The 11 adopted children remained in Leekin's care until her arrest last
month.

Leekin, 62, of Port St. Lucie, used four aliases over two decades in New
York City to adopt the 11 children, police said. She remains held on
more than $4 million bail on 10 charges, including child abuse.

She is accused of handcuffing the children and tethering them together
at night, forcing them to sleep on a floor and soil themselves because
they weren't allowed to use the bathroom.

She could face up to 190 years in prison if convicted on all 10 counts.
Her attorney has filed a not guilty plea.

During the 1999 investigation, DCF officials found at least three boys
living with Leekin, but found no signs of abuse, the report states.

Leekin told investigators the children belonged to a relative who was in
Japan. The boys told investigators Leekin treated them well and denied
that there were any other kids living in the home.

It's not clear if DCF investigators ever saw any of the actual 11
adopted children. According to police, Leekin often threatened the
children and hid them when visitors came to the home.

The adopted children now range in age from 15 to 27. Ten of the children
and adults are now in Florida state care. One is blind and mumbles.
Another can barely walk or stand. All have scars on their wrists and
ankles from allegedly being tied and handcuffed. None appear to have
more than a fourth-grade education.

Police were still searching for an 18-year-old man believed to have been
among the 11 adopted children.






CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A
DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NSA / CIA
WIRETAPPING PROGRAM....

CPS Does not protect children...
It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even
killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from
connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US
These numbers come from The National Center on
Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)
Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

*Perpetrators of Maltreatment*

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59
Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13
Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241
Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12
Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT
FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...


BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF
REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES
TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY
ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...

"fx" wrote in message
...
Florida woman accused in adoption scam lied to authorities
By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press Writer

http://www.bradenton.com/331/story/116160.html

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. --
Florida investigators were stymied in 1999 while investigating child abuse
claims against a woman now accused in an adoption scam because New York
officials couldn't find any record of her then.

Judith Leekin was charged last month with abusing 11 adopted children and
using them to line her pockets with $1.26 million in stipends she received
to help care for them. But she first came to authorities attention eight
years ago.

The Florida Department of Children & Families began an investigation into
her after receiving tips that she was abusing children she adopted from
New York. Florida authorities then contacted the New York City
Administration for Children's Services, according to records unsealed by a
judge Monday.

In a Feb. 22, 1999, letter to the New York agency, a Florida investigator
wrote, "I am trying to locate 11 children who are reportedly in her
(Leekin's) care at this time."

The Florida DCF investigator included in the letter three aliases for
Leekin and two Social Security numbers and requested any information about
Leekin being a foster parent or having adopted children in New York.

The New York agency responded that it had "no active records on Judith in
the system," according to the 1999 DCF report. DCF closed the case without
finding any evidence of abuse.

Florida officials had no immediate comment Tuesday.

"We're still looking into all aspects of this investigation," said Sheila
Stainback, a spokeswoman for the New York City agency. She declined
further comment.

Authorities believe Leekin may have been able to fool the New York City
system because it wasn't until 1999 that adoption agencies there began
requiring fingerprints from prospective parents.

The 11 adopted children remained in Leekin's care until her arrest last
month.

Leekin, 62, of Port St. Lucie, used four aliases over two decades in New
York City to adopt the 11 children, police said. She remains held on more
than $4 million bail on 10 charges, including child abuse.

She is accused of handcuffing the children and tethering them together at
night, forcing them to sleep on a floor and soil themselves because they
weren't allowed to use the bathroom.

She could face up to 190 years in prison if convicted on all 10 counts.
Her attorney has filed a not guilty plea.

During the 1999 investigation, DCF officials found at least three boys
living with Leekin, but found no signs of abuse, the report states.

Leekin told investigators the children belonged to a relative who was in
Japan. The boys told investigators Leekin treated them well and denied
that there were any other kids living in the home.

It's not clear if DCF investigators ever saw any of the actual 11 adopted
children. According to police, Leekin often threatened the children and
hid them when visitors came to the home.

The adopted children now range in age from 15 to 27. Ten of the children
and adults are now in Florida state care. One is blind and mumbles.
Another can barely walk or stand. All have scars on their wrists and
ankles from allegedly being tied and handcuffed. None appear to have more
than a fourth-grade education.

Police were still searching for an 18-year-old man believed to have been
among the 11 adopted children.


Reportedly, the missing child was a down's syndrome boy and the Mommy
Dearest has told others in the household that he "died". He was called
"Mo". Terrible story but fascinating. How many like her are out there? I
don't know how someone could adopt even one child through phoney ID. It is
excruciatingly intricate, going through the processes. It seems to me that
this woman couldn't not have accomplished this scam without other's
cooperation and help.

Thanks for the update. Sherman.