From Courthouse News Service:
Couples trying to adopt children from Vietnam say the Little Pearls Adoptions Agency took $133,000 to “hold” children for them, then informed them it had a “license issue,” and refuses to return the money. In the federal RICO complaint, the seven plaintiffs sued Debbie Fischer and Richard Feinberg, directors of Little Pearls, which formerly was known as “An Angelic Choice.”
Little Pearls operates out of Tampa and South Pasadena, Fla., according to the complaint. The plaintiffs – three couples and a would-be mom-say the defendants took their money knowing that the adoptions couldn’t be completed since the agency was not licensed.
They claim Little Pearls collected $133,000 in deposits, and then them a letter informing them about the “license issue,” but claimed it would soon have a license.
Now the defendants refuse to return the deposits, according to the complaint.
The full article can be accessed here.
13 Responses
DUH! What did they think they would get working with an unlicensed agency!?! Dontcha love when PAPs get all shocked that there was corruption in their adoption 9or it doesn’t happen at all) when there were Giganitc Red Flags the whole time! UH DUH!!!!
Jessica, you area a real genius arent you. You know, fraud has a great deal to do with deception. I just wonder how many PAPs ask to see the actual agency license when they adopt (from the country they are adopting from). Are you kidding me? Pretty ignorant comment. My wife and I recently adopted a little girl. We took it upon good faith that our agency was licensed, as that is what they represented. We never thought to ask to see a license. You know, I’m a licensed and registered therapist and have been practicing for over 10 years now. Do you know how many of my patients have asked to see my practice license? “DRUM ROLL PLEASE”. A grand total of zero. Thats right ZERO. I have treated thousands of patients and not a one of them has ever asked to see a license. I represent myself as a licensed, registered therapist. My patients assume they are receiving a service from a licensed, registered therapist. The difference between myself and Little Pearls is that Little Pearls allegedly represented itself as a licensed agency in a specific province in which it wasnt. Therefore the alleged crime is fraud. But you Jessica are brilliant and I am sure would have had the foresight to ask to see a license from Viet Nam specifically stating the province in which you were intending to adopt from right? And because you are fluent in reading Vietnamese, would have been able clearly identify the appropriate certificate. “UH DUH!!!!” Do you think they issue them in English? Jessica do you have a number so anyone reading this can contact you for brilliant guidance through the adoption process. You sure seem to know it all.
That doesn’t make it any less a crime. I think most people assume that if an agency is up and running in America, it must be above board. And many agencies have done adoptions in countries while still awaiting formal approval. No, I wouldn’t use an agency that is not licensed or Hague certified for that matter, but it still doesn’t negate that this agency has committed fraud.
One of the PAPs was warned about this agency. Still proceeded.
See the last comment in this link: http://vietnam.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/little-pearls-adoption-agency#comments
Women are warned about walking alone at night. Does that ever excuse a rapist? Good for these families for standing up, going to court, and demanding Little Pearls be held accountable.
So PAPs have no responsibility at all? I think the responsibilty to make sure things are ethical falls on PAPs and the agencies. PAPs should try to research their agencies (no you cannot always find out everything) and agencies should try to be aware of what is happening in country. Too many people closed their eyes to too many things and now Vietnam is closed. Responsibilty for this lies on many levels. PAPs are not completely excused.
Little Pearls wasn’t even licensed in Vietnam when they were handing out referrals. They knew exactly what they were doing when they took money from these families. Last I checked being naive and trusting were not crimes; on the other hand, taking money for services an entity knew it could not provide is absolutely a crime. How many agencies behaved unethically in Vietnam and are still in business? Again, good for these families for standing up. The responsibility for making certain adoptions are ethical lies with the state and federal agencies who (fail to) regulate the industry. PAPs and APs who really want change need to change laws, not blame the victims of fraud. Think of how much more powerful our voices can be working together, supporting families who speak out, demanding change together, rather than creating divisions among ourselves.
I’m not trying to create division – but PAPs do have some responsibilty, as do other entities. We can’t go into this blindly – that’s all I’m saying. I think its good they are suing – the more press this gets – the more it will inform future PAPs that they need to be careful in chosing agencies. Agencies are not always looking out for their interests.
I have mixed feelings on this; or rather, I should say I agree with both Sarah and Mary. What Little Pearls did was despicable and a crime. However, after reading the complaint, I also agree with Sarah about PAP’s responsibility. These parents sent money to “hold” a child. Even a preliminary internet research session would’ve located several articles – not just bloggers and yahoo groups – that would’ve shown this to be the red flag it is.
I sometimes hate the internet; I feel that there is way too much propensity for gossip and 2nd hand stories to be trumpeted as irrefutable proof of something, whether it’s unethical behavior or disreputable agencies. That being said, when I started my adoption process in 2006, I fell over the LaTrace/Feinberg/Little Pearls stuff and actual news stories about the corruption and the expulsion order for LaTrace (I believe it was an expulsion order) – that was pretty hard to disagree with, imo.
Question if anyone knows – was Little Pearls licensed in any province?
They were licensed in Ha Nam.
One of the PAPs was warned about this agency. Still proceeded.
See the last comment in this link: http://vietnam.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/little-pearls-adoption-agency#comments
I’d like to clarify:
1. The PAPs referred to above did not seek information until AFTER paying money to Little Pearls. The PAPs didn’t even know this was necessary.
2. Little Pearls was licensed in Florida AS WELL AS in Vietnam. Their license was pulled by Vietnam in November of that year, after at least 2 families had contracted with them. LP failed to tell the PAPs as well, they added more families while they didn’t have a license in the country.
3. Little Pearls lied to DCF in Florida in order to obtain their state license. According to DCF, they required LP to sign an affidavit stating that LaTrace would not be involved with the agency in any way. The following June, LP revealed to DCF that they were “consulting” with LaTrace for months after signing the affidavit.
4. The Vietnam licenses were ultimately reinstated.
Feinberg was/is an attorney in Tampa. Has anyone sent a complaint to Florida Bar to let them know what a high class citizen he is NOT.