2nd Former Pinellas Inmate Accused Of Defrauding Adoptive Parents

LARGO, FL — A second former Pinellas County Jail inmate is facing adoption fraud charges after changing her mind about adopting her baby but continuing to take living expenses from the adoptive parents.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrested Angelica M. Lopez, 30, of the 1900 block of Dix Street in Largo after receiving a complaint from the director of adoptions for Thomas Fischgrund, P.A., which was handling the adoption.

Lopez was the jailhouse roommate of Ceara Rae Stowe, 26, of 80th Avenue North in Pinellas Park, was has been charged with the same crime. Both pregnant women contacted the law firm, which handles private adoptions, in December and signed agreements to adopt their babies at birth, each choosing prospective adoptive parents.

See related story: Pregnant Woman Accused Of Defrauding Couple Wishing To Adopt

Susan Deckrow of Thomas Fischgrund attorneys contacted the Pinellas Sheriff's Office in April, telling detectives that Lopez had selected Gregory and Amaia Garbee of Safety Harbor Dec. 27 to adopt her unborn child on Dec. 27 while she was in jail. The Garbees agreed to pay Lopez' living expenses until she gave birth.

Lopez was released from jail Feb. 7 and began meeting with the Garbees each week for lunch. Detectives said Lopez suddenly ended their weekly lunches at the beginning of April as her due date approached, saying she felt too sick to eat. She gave birth on April 4. However, she continued to tell the Garbees that she was still pregnant, sending them photos of her swollen feet and enlarged stomach as evidence. During the time she pretended to be pregnant, she received three checks from the couple totaling $1,100.

Detectives interviewed Lopez Aug. 16 and she admitted to receiving funds from the Garbees after her child was born and rescinding the adoption agreement without notifying the adoptive parents.

The baby was placed with a caregiver by the Pinellas County Child Protection Investigation Unit.

There is no evidence that the decision by the two former jail roommates to commit fraud was coordinated.