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Former Adoption Official Accused Of Defrauding Parents

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TBO.com

Published: August 29, 2008

  Debra West

TAMPA - The former director of Adoption by Choice defrauded dozens of adoptive parents, overcharging them for unnecessary birthmother medical and living expenses, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The offenses occurred in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Citrus, Sarasota, Marion, Alachua and Brevard counties, an FDLE news release states.

FDLE investigators arrested Debra W. West, 46, on Thursday. She was charged with grand theft – over $100,000.

West, who served as Adoption by Choice's director from 1992 to 2005, has defrauded parents since 2000, investigators say.

Several parents were charged for medical expenses when the birthmothers were fully covered by Medicaid, the FDLE release states. The total loss is more than $188,000, including more than $58,000 in medical expenses already covered by Medicaid.

West is being held without bond at the Pasco County Corrections Facility.

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