A possible plea deal for a Long Island, N.Y., attorney charged with running an adoption scam could land him behind bars for up to 20 years. Roslyn lawyer Kevin Cohen, who was indicted in October on charges that he stole more than $300,000 from couples looking to adopt by promising them children that did not exist, has until April 23 to decide whether to take a plea of 7 1/3 to 22 years, which under statute is capped at 20 years.
According to prosecutors, 13 families, some from New York and others from Georgia, Texas and Ohio, gave money — up to $65,000 in one case — believing it would be held in escrow to pay for medical costs and expenses of fake birth mothers. Cohen allegedly perpetuated the scam by using phony sonograms and other documents.
