Guilty plea for woman in LI adoption scam

A Florida woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to reneging on a promise to allow a Port Washington couple to adopt her baby and refusing to return $7,000 the couple had given her, Nassau prosecutors said.

Jessica Dreves, 33, of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty before Nassau County Court Judge William Donnino to third-degree grand larceny in exchange for a sentence of six months in jail and five years' probation, said Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice, in a statement.

Rice said Dreves in March 2009 had promised both a Massachusetts couple, who used an adoption agency, and a Port Washington couple, to adopt the child she was due to give birth to in October 2009.

The Port Washington couple sent Dreves more than $7,000 for food, clothing and rent, but lost contact with her in late September 2009, Rice said, adding that an attorney for the Port Washington couple discovered Dreves had entered an agreement to allow the Massachusetts couple to adopt her baby.

Dreves, who kept the baby girl, was arrested in February 2010.

"To promise an innocent, loving couple the joy of parenthood, and then to snatch it away in order to steal a few thousand dollars is unconscionable," Rice said.

Dreves will be sentenced on May 6.