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May 22, 2008 11:00 am US/Pacific
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Placer County Couple Victim Of Adoption Fraud
AUBURN (CBS13) ―
The FBI has arrested a Texas woman on charges of adoption fraud after she falsely told a Placer County couple she was pregnant and would give them her baby. And authorities believe there may be other victims.
Placer County Sheriff's detectives and the FBI arrested 26-year-old Belinda Ramirez in Beeville, Texas on Wednesday.
According to the Placer County Sheriff, Ramirez contacted several California adoption agencies claiming to be pregnant with documentation to support her claim. Those agencies put Ramirez in contact with people who have been waiting for a child including a Placer County couple.
Ramirez asked for money to cover her expenses and the victims forwarded her the money. They then flew to San Antonio to be there for the birth of the baby only to realize there was no baby.
The FBI and Placer County deputies arrested Ramirez when she went to pick up what she thought was a payment for birthing costs.
Deputies say during the arrested, they realized other potential victims may have been contacted by Ramirez.
The Sheriff says another victim from Placer County was also scheduled to fly to Texas but the Sheriff's office was able to contact them and inform them of the woman's scheme.
The suspect has been taken to jail in Corpus Christi, Texas where she is currently held without bail. She will be prosecuted by Federal Authorities.
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