Two Michigan couples are arrested for conspiring to adopt dozens of children from foster care before subjecting them to ‘routine mental and physical abuse’: Received more than $1 million in tax-free money from the state
Two Michigan couples have been charged in a scheme to adopt nearly 30 children who they used to obtain government funding while concealing patterns of mental and physical abuse against them.
Joel Brown, 54, and Tammy Brown, 53, and Jerry Flore, 58, and Tamal Flore, 56, were indicted Tuesday on 36 counts of child abuse.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed the charges after finding evidence that they abused eight of the adopted children in their care dating back to 2007.
The Flores face the most charges, with Tamal facing 17 and Jerry facing 11, including counts of child abuse in the first degree, which could land them in prison for life.
All four adoptive parents face charges ranging from conspiracy to commit child abuse and failure to report child abuse.
Two Michigan couples have been charged in a scheme to adopt nearly 30 children who they used to obtain government funding while concealing patterns of mental and physical abuse against them. Pictured: Jerry and Tamal Flore
Joel Brown, 54, and Tammy Brown (pictured), 53, and Jerry Flore, 58, and Tamal Flore, 56, were indicted Tuesday on 36 counts of child abuse
Nessel also accuses them of taking more than $1 million tax-free from the state of Michigan by manipulating the foster and adoptive care system.
The couples, who both live in the Michigan town of DeWitt, conspired to adopt the children through Joel Brown, who once worked for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service's children's bureau.
The indictment accuses him of “using his expertise in child abuse investigations and child protection laws to evade detection of ongoing child abuse in his own home and that of the Flores.”
Both couples regularly abused their children, disguising this as simple punishment.
“The Brown and Flore families preyed on dozens of children removed from previously abusive biological homes and subjected the children to prolonged routine and systemic mental and physical abuse under the guise of discipline,” Nessel said in a statement.
“These two families have adopted or fostered at least 30 children, resulting in enormous financial gain.”
Shockingly, both couples had previously faced child abuse charges, but these had been dismissed or reduced.
“These blatant allegations highlight not only a moral and legal failure by those charged with the care of children, but also a failure in our systems to ensure that children in custody are properly cared for,” Nessel said.
The Flores face the most charges, with Tamal facing 17 and Jerry facing 11, including counts of child abuse in the first degree, which could land them in prison for life.
The couples, who both live in the Michigan town of DeWitt, conspired to adopt the children through Joel Brown, who once worked for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service's children's bureau.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed the charges after finding evidence that they abused eight of the adopted children in their care dating back to 2007.
At least one of the adopted children, Shamber Brown, defends de Flores, claiming she was not abused.
“It was really crazy to hear the accusations, just because, I mean, if I'm completely honest, my mom is my best friend,” Brown, who has lived with the Flores since 2005, said News 10.
Brown said she even married one of Joel and Tammy Brown's sons and he also believes the abuse didn't happen.
“They were like the only safe family that I feel like, us kids, that we need to be with. I mean, I married one of their sons.”
'My husband certainly supports my parents. He supports his parents, has nothing but love. I absolutely agree with everything I say, yes, they are being falsely accused.”
At least one of the adopted children, Shamber Brown, defends de Flores, claiming she was not abused
Clinton County Sheriff Sean Dush speaks during Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's press conference
She claims that the only way her parents would punish her was to make her sit on a square during a timeout.
Brown believes her siblings may be dealing with trauma from before their adoption.
“I'd say well over half of my siblings haven't gotten very good healing just because they've been through really traumatic things—whether their memory is skewed or because they like to cause chaos.”
The Browns and Flores have until Friday to turn themselves in.