Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw
Date: 08-25-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Tara Lynn Lee
Case Number: 2:19-cr-20128-BAF-RSW-1
Judge: Bernard A. Friedman
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Wayne County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Sara Woodward
Defendant's Attorney: Sanford A. Schulman
Do you need a criminal defense lawyer in Detroit?
Call: 888-354-4529 and we will help you find one for free.
Description:
Detroit, MI - Macomb Mother Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Charges Related To Fraudulent Adoption Scheme
A Macomb County woman pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection to an adoption fraud scheme.
Pleading guilty was Tara Lynn Lee, 38, of New Haven, Michigan.
According to court records, Lee operated in Michigan under the name Always Hope Pregnancy and Education Center. Neither Lee nor her organization were licensed by the State of Michigan to facilitate adoptions or match birth mothers to adoptive families. Yet from 2014 to 2018, Lee repeatedly paired birth mothers with adoptive parents. Lee represented herself to adoptive parents as a licensed social worker with a legitimate adoption agency.
During the plea hearing, Lee admitted that on several occasions, she matched more than one set of adoptive parents to a birth mother. Other times, Lee matched adoptive parents with birth mothers that did not exist, were not pregnant, or had not decided to place their child into adoption. Lee requested and received payment from prospective adoptive parents for these fraudulent matches. In her plea agreement, Lee admitted to causing a loss over $250,000.
Lee’s advisory sentencing guideline range is 97-121 months, and Judge Friedman will determine the ultimate sentence imposed.
A webpage has been created to provide case related information to those affected by the offenses. Please visit www.justice.gov/usaeo-edmi and click the link titled U.S. v. Tara Lee.
The case was investigated by the Detroit FBI.
Charges:
FRAUD BY WIRE, RADIO, OR TELEVISION
(1-3)
FRAUD BY WIRE, RADIO, OR TELEVISION
(1s-16s)
FRAUD BY WIRE, RADIO, OR TELEVISION
(4-5)
FRAUD BY WIRE, RADIO, OR TELEVISION
(6-18)
FRAUD WITH IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS
(17s)
FRAUD BY WIRE, RADIO, OR TELEVISION
(18s-24s)
Outcome: 08/20/2019 Minute Entry for proceedings before District Judge Bernard A. Friedman: Plea Hearing as to Tara Lynn Lee held on 8/20/2019, Disposition: Guilty plea entered as to Count 4,5 of the Indictment; Rule 11 Plea Agreement taken under advisement; detention continued. (Sentencing set for 11/19/2019 11:30 AM before District Judge Bernard A. Friedman)(Court Reporter: Andrea Wabeke) (Defendant Attorney: Sanford A. Shulman) (AUSA: Sara Woodward; Margaret Smith) (JCur) (Entered: 08/20/2019)
08/20/2019 70 RULE 11 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Tara Lynn Lee. (JCur) (Entered: 08/20/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: