Woman Charged In Adoption Scam

INDIANAPOLIS -- Seven felony charges were filed Wednesday against a woman who prosecutors said defrauded multiple adoption agencies and prospective adoptive parents.

Christina White, 27, of Indianapolis, received several thousand dollars worth of living and medical financial expenses from agencies and would-be parents in 2009, Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said.

According to a probable cause affidavit, White gave false and misleading information to the agencies and that she offered an unborn child up for adoption to four couples in hopes of profiting from the adoption.

"This woman was preying on families' desire to have a baby by getting them to provide for her housing and medical care," Brizzi said. "These four families hope to have a baby of their own was hindered because of her deception."

White delivered a child in December 2009, who was placed in foster care.

White was charged with three counts of felony theft and four counts of felony adoption deception, all Class D felonies.

One of the agencies involved was Bethany Christian Services, which was victimized by another woman in a separate case who admitted she lied about being pregnant to collect financial assistance.