OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The co-defendant in the case of a former Oklahoma County judge accused of adoption fraud has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from her role in that crime and other offenses.
Ravonda Edwards entered pleas Friday to two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and four counts of making a false claim against the state of Oklahoma. Edwards also pleaded guilty to first-degree arson in a separate case that led to the adoption fraud investigation, The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/L977Po) reported.
http://liarcatchers.com/fraud_investigation.html
Edwards received three-year deferred sentences on the conspiracy counts and two-year deferred terms on the each of the other counts. She was given a five-year suspended sentence on the arson count as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
Former District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure and her husband, Karlos LeSure, were accused of secretly giving away twin babies to Edwards after the couple became their foster parents in 2008. Edwards’ sister was Bass-LeSure’s bailiff.
Bass-LeSure pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining public assistance by false representation, and her husband pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining public assistance and a count of attempting to obtain public assistance. Bass-LeSure resigned as part of her deal with prosecutors.
The couple adopted the children in 2010.
Prosecutors alleged Bass-LeSure gave the children to Edwards in 2008 and later lied on adoption records to continue the deception. Edwards was accused of conspiring with the couple to deceive the state and cashing state-issued checks for foster care payments endorsed by Bass-LeSure.
Prosecutors said Edwards raised the boy and girl.
The allegations came to light after Oklahoma City Fire Department arson investigators looked into a June 4, 2010, fire at a woman’s home. The woman was identified as Edwards’ former girlfriend.
Edwards declined to comment after leaving court Friday. A call to her attorney, listed in court records as Gary James, wasn’t immediately returned on Saturday.
