Judith Leekin is also accused of beating and starving the children inside her Florida home. The 63-year-old admitted she sent phony report cards to child welfare officials as proof the kids were progressing.

The city's Administration for Children's Services says a review of adoption records has so far not revealed any other fraudulent cases. To cut down on fraud, it now requires all prospective adoptive parents to be fingerprinted. Parents must also submit a series of documents on an annual basis that include a child's social security number and medical records.

For WNYC, I'm Isaac-Davy Aronson.

OUTRO: ACS doesn't have authority to go to an adoptive parent’s home to check on a child once the child is adopted.