Tampa Woman Accused Of Duping Couple In Adoption Fraud

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TAMPA (CBSMiami/AP) — A Tampa woman is accused of faking her pregnancy and collecting thousands of dollars from a Minnesota couple in an adoption fraud case.

Media outlets report the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office says 31-year-old Carrie Cutler was arrested Wednesday in Tampa on two counts of adoption fraud.

Detectives say Cutler signed a pre-birth agreement in July 2015 for Todd and Alyssa Holmstrom's adoption of her child, but misled the couple into believing she was still pregnant after miscarrying in August.

Deputies say Cutler never told the Holmstroms or the adoption agency about the miscarriage and continued to receive more than $13,000 for various living expenses.

In March, the adoption agency began investigating and obtained records showing that Cutler had a miscarriage seven months earlier.

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