FBI Investigates Internet Adoption Agency

Jan. 19 -- The FBI is looking into whether the U.S. adoption firm that twice-traded baby twins on the Internet may have committed fraud in its dealings with would-be adoptive parents, FBI sources say.

No official charges have been filed. But according to bureau sources, the FBI has received multiple complaints from people who say they paid money or entered into agreements to adopt children through the "A Caring Heart" Internet adoption firm, only to have the plans fall through.

Many of the complaints originate near Salt Lake City, Utah, and the FBI's Salt Lake City office is leading the investigation.

A Caring Heart told The Associated Press it is legitimate.

"There was no selling, there was no trading, there was noillegal trafficking," said Jennifer Coburn, spokeswoman for TinaJohnson, who operates A Caring Heart.

"Ms. Johnson is a legitimate adoption facilitator who providesa service for adoptive parents wishing to locate children who arebeing placed for adoption," Coburn said.

Babies in Custody

Belinda and Kimberley, the 6-month-old twins at the center of the most public of the adoption disputes, were taken into the care of Welsh authorities Flintshire County on Thursday. Officials said they were acting on an emergency protection order.

The children were taken from British couple, Alan and Judith Kilshaw, who say they adopted the twins from A Caring Heart. However, California couple, Richard and Vickie Allen, also claim to have paid the same firm to adopt the twin girls and say they will go to court to get them back.

The release of the children to Alan Kilshaw, 45, a lawyer, and his wife, Judith, 47, was authorized by an Arkansas court. It is not clear whether the Allens were ever issued papers approving the adoption in any state.

The case has attracted widespread attention partly because of the competing claims on the twins, and also because of curiosity about the online adoption process.

Investigations, Court Hearings

The Los Angeles office of the FBI is looking into the Allen's complaints over the matter, FBI sources said.