Arizona official charged with human smuggling in adoption fraud

SEE B. S. NEWS ^ | OCTOBER 9, 2019 | A/P

[AzNASCARfan]

Phoenix, Arizona — The assessor of Arizona's largest county has been indicted in connection with 11 felony offenses, including human smuggling, sale of a child and communications fraud in an adoption fraud scheme, authorities said.

[Brown Deer]

A Dedicated Law Practice Focused on Family Formation Through Adoption.

Video: Paul Petersen

Paul practices law in Arizona, Arkansas and Utah. He also acts as general counsel for Bright Star Adoptions, LLC, an Arizona-licensed adoption agency.

Photos: DPS raids Maricopa County Assessor Paul D. Petersen's Mesa home, office

According to his FB page, he's a big fan of Romney:


and this is his late grandfather, which indeed confirms my suspicions, that he is a Mormon:

Briggs, Ernest Samuel born March 10, 1919, one of 9 children of Azer R. Briggs and Emilie Osterloh of Magrath, Alberta, Canada, passed away April 29, 2010.

Ernest has always been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to many positions of responsibility; serving as a Bishop, Stake Missionary, Temple Ordinance Worker and Asst. to Quorum President and Bishop's Counselor.

[hsmomx3]

Republican

[AzNASCARfan]

Yeah something tells me this is one of the bottom rungs on this ladder, not anywhere NEAR the top... We are just getting started here.

[LucyT]

****

PING.

Check out # 21.

And,

Phoenix, Arizona — Paul Petersen, the assessor of Arizona’s largest county has been indicted in connection with 11 felony offenses, including human smuggling, sale of a child and communications fraud in an adoption fraud scheme, authorities said.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office confirmed the 32-count federal indictment Tuesday against Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen for conspiracy, theft, forgery, and 29 counts of fraudulent schemes...”

Petersen has for years run an adoption law practice in Mesa that involves bringing women from the Marshall Islands to the U.S. to give birth.

Their babies are then adopted by U.S. parents, authorities said. - Petersen charged $40,000 per adoption, according to his website.

Thanks, Brown Deer.

[deks]

Has some additional information . . .

Arizona Adoption Attorney Arrested for Human Trafficking Had Strong Connections to Jeff Flake and John McCain

https://www.dcclothesline.com/2019/10/11/arizona-adoption-attorney-arrested-for-human-trafficking-had-strong-connections-to-jeff-flake-and-john-mccain/