Sep 28, 2009 8:17 pm US/Eastern
List Of Possible Victims In NY Adoption Scam Grows
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Kevin Cohen, 41, is accused of being behind an adoption scam that promised children who never existed to prospective parents.
CBS
At least nine more couples are coming forward, saying they were victimized by a Long Island lawyer in an alleged adoption scheme.
Prosecutors say the couples paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for babies who didn't even exist.
"He sat on our couch right there," Ben Vogt said. "He even brought a photo sonogram."
"We thought this was going to be our baby," Brigid Vogt said. "I can't tell you how many times I've kissed this picture. I feel so silly now."
Brigid and Ben Vogt, of Seaford, are heartbroken. They are among multiple couples now coming forward, reporting their victimization in an alleged widespread "adoption Ponzi scheme."
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice is charging Roslyn lawyer Kevin Cohen with fraud and grand larceny.
"He preyed upon us, and he knew we were vulnerable, trying to create a family for so long," Brigid said. "We gave him $22,500 cash."
The Vogts borrowed money, took out loans, and went into debt to come up with the cash. Last week, they were told to wire the money immediately, or risk losing "baby Erin." They say Cohen produced files of documentation, including the 19-year-old mother's prenatal charts – all bogus, according to the DA.
"There were so many red flags, but we'd been talking for so long about having a baby for Brandon, our two-and-a-half-year-old," Ben said. "When you get desperate – I mean, I am a little embarrassed about having this guy come into my house, and people able to dupe me and my family."
Cohen, who lives in Roslyn, is being held on $500,000 bond. His attorney plans to offer his defense Wednesday in court.
"We wanted to believe so badly that this was our time, that this was a gift from God," Ben said.
Prosecutors claim Cohen, who knew the couples and gained their trust, fabricated sonograms and documentation. They say the 19-year-old pregnant college student from Pennsylvania never existed.
Cohen has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney said it would be premature to comment on the investigation.
Rice said parents are willing to pay so much money out of desperation in giving a child a new home. "These people want to believe that they are going to get a child. They let the process go on because for many people, it's the first time that they've ever been involved in an adoption process and they simply just don't know how long it should take," she said. "So lies are easy to give couples who are holding onto hope to be able to give a child a healthy home."
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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