Phoenix • A woman accused of helping a metro Phoenix politician in what authorities have called an illegal adoption scheme involving women from the Marshall Islands pleaded guilty Thursday to helping arrange benefits from Arizona’s Medicaid program for expecting mothers even though the women didn’t live in the state.
Lynwood Jennet, 46, assisted the birth mothers in applying for the health benefits at the direction of Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen, who also works as an adoption attorney, authorities said.
Officials have said 28 Marshallese women gave birth in the Phoenix area as part of the scheme, costing Arizona $800,000 in health care expenses, and that their children were put up for adoption through Petersen.