Ex-Adoption Director Accused Of Defrauding Parents
Posted on Sunday, 7 of September , 2008 at 7:17 pm
NEW PORT RICHEY, FLA—The former director of Adoption by Choice (ABC) has been arrested for allegedly with defrauding dozens of adoptive parents by overcharging them for unnecessary birthmother living and medical expenses.
Debra W. West, 46, has been charged with grand theft over $100,000.
West, who headed ABC from 1992 to 2005, allegedly charged several of the adoptive parents for medical expenses when the birthmothers were fully covered by Medicaid, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said. FDLE investigators said they believe West has been defrauding parents since 2000.
The total grand theft loss is $188,008 of which $58,235 were medical expenses already covered by Medicaid. These offenses occurred in Hillsborough, Pasco, Citrus, Marion, Pinellas, Sarasota, Brevard and Alachua counties. West is being held without bond at the Pasco County Corrections Facility. 9-07-08
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Category: Children, Courts, Crime, Florida
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