Family Victims of Kidnapping Scam

An Amber Alert was issued last week when a Jacksonville, Florida family found themselves the victim of a kidnapping scam. Jasmine White, 19, pretended to be a child welfare worker and took the 3-week-old Melvin Duclos from his home. The family didn't realize that White had followed them back to their home after an appointment at the Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.

When she did arrive at their home later on pretending to be with child services, the family told police that she showed them a badge and demanded their child, or else she would call the police.

And why did White kidnap Melvin in the first place? To cover up her own lies. It appears that she had faked a pregnancy and needed a baby to provide her with the cover she needed.

When White went before the judge she tearfully changed her plea to guilty, and also plead guilty to two unrelated accounts of criminal use of personal information from charges that originate in 2009.  It is believed that the young woman could be sentenced up to 40 years in prison.

If you are having problems related to child custody, now is the time to contact our law office and consult with a Long Island family law attorney.