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Fake names helped mom adopt 11 New York children: welfare agency:received $1.26 million in stipends to help care for the kids, Authoritiesin Florida, however, say she received up to $2 million in payments from NewYork City.
Fake names helped mom adopt 11 New York children: welfare agency
By BRIAN SKOLOFF | Associated Press Writer 4:35 PM EDT, August 2, 2007 http://www.amny.com/news/local/wire/...m-topheadlines WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A woman accused of abusing her 11 adopted children and bilking New York City out of nearly $1.3 million gained custody of the kids through six adoption processes using four fakes names, authorities said Thursday. Judith Leekin, of Port St. Lucie, used the four aliases at separate agencies in New York City to adopt the children between July 1988 and April 1996 and never once used her real name, said Sharman Stein, a spokeswoman for the New York City Administration for Children's Services, a child welfare agency. Stein said Leekin, 62, received $1.26 million in stipends to help care for the kids. Authorities in Florida, however, say she received up to $2 million in payments from New York City. They say the children _ who now range in age from 15 to 27 _ told them Leekin never took them to see a doctor or dentist and never allowed them to attend school. Leekin is charged with 10 counts of abuse, among other things. She handcuffed the children and tethered them together at night, forcing them to sleep on a cold tile floor and soil themselves because they weren't allowed to use the bathroom, prosecutors said. She could face up to 190 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Her attorney, Mario Garcia, said he has filed a not guilty plea. Her arraignment is set for Aug. 17. Leekin's biological son spoke out recently in his mother's defense. "She's a loving caring mom and grandma," the son told New York's WCBS-TV, which did not name him and did not show his face. "I'm her only son. ... You don't see me driving a BMW. I'm renting my apartment. The $2 million I'd love to see." Port St. Lucie police have said that Leekin would likely face more charges and that others could be arrested for helping her. They would not elaborate. The Florida Department of Children & Families investigated a complaint of child abuse against Leekin in 1999, but the case was later closed and the records are sealed. "There was absolutely no indication of child abuse on any of the victims that they saw at that time," DCF spokeswoman Ellen Higinbotham said. However, New York City officials said they have no record of Florida ever contacting them in 1999, a move that may have raised red flags since Leekin never used her real name to adopt the children. "But that would be considered part of standard practice if they wanted to see what the earlier jurisdiction might have known about this individual," Stein said. Higinbotham could not say whether such a call was made. However, she said DCF investigators would not be required to determine whether the children were adopted or where they were from. She declined to say whether DCF knew in this case that the children had been adopted in New York. New York City officials believe Leekin may have been able to fool the system because it wasn't until 1999 that adoption agencies there began requiring fingerprints from prospective parents. Stein said Leekin adopted her first child using an alias in July 1988. She said Leekin then adopted three more under another alias in May 1993 and three more using yet another fake name in June 1994. She said Leekin adopted two more children _ one in December 1994 and one in June 1995 _ using that alias and then adopted two more under a fourth false name in April 1996. Authorities allege Leekin was using the children as a cottage industry to line her pockets with subsidy payments while abusing and neglecting them. People who adopt special needs children in New York City can get as much as $55 a day until the child turns 21. Stein said all the children adopted by Leekin were deemed to have special needs. Ten of the children and adults are now in Florida state care. One is blind and mumbles. Another can barely walk or stand. None appears to have more than a fourth-grade education. Police were still searching for an 18-year-old 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... |
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