Texas attorney tried to buy Tarrant County inmates' unborn babies, sheriff's office says

From Fox News:

The owner of a Texas adoption agency is facing charges for what law enforcement officials called "unethical adoption practices."

Jody Hall is facing two charges of the "sale or purchase of a child."

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office accused the 68-year-old of "paying money to multiple pregnant Tarrant County inmates for the purpose of placing their unborn children up for adoption with [her] agency."

Online records indicate Hall runs an organization called Adoptions International, Inc.

Tarrant County shared a probable cause affidavit detailing the allegations involving Hall. The documents say Hall added $846 to one inmate's account and tried to arrange a connection with the inmate's boyfriend so he could sign papers that would give up his rights to the child.

Investigators obtained text messages allegedly between Hall and an inmate on their jail tablets.

"I've helped a lot of girls like yourself. We have families who cannot have children that would love to adopt your child," wrote Hall. "You can pick a family and start communicating with them now. We will put $100 weekly on your books, and you can spend part of it on the tablet or whatever you wish to buy."

"You will have $2,500 when you get out, or if you want me to put some on your books each week, I can do that," she wrote on another occasion.

In another situation earlier this spring, investigators say Hall had transferred $846 to an inmate, who then decided to keep her child.

"You're in jail and a drug addict. YOU! Did NOT keep him. You are a scammer and I will be telling the prosecutor in your case," she allegedly wrote. "I don’t need birth moms that lie to me just to get financial support. And I can’t give you anymore if he’s not willing to sign the paperwork." 

Read more here.