Maryville, Tenn., man pleads guilty in adoption forgery scheme

A 49-year-old Maryville, Tenn., man pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to two counts of forgery after authorities discovered he scammed a couple out of $400,000 as they tried to adopt the foster children in their care.

Kevin Scott Thibault posed as an attorney and agreed to help two people adopt the children they were caring for in May 2012, according to the plea agreement. He create fake adoption papers and forged the signatures of two federal judges on the forms.

In October 2012, Thibault demanded the foster parents give him power of attorney, and he said it was to represent their interests during the adoption procedures. But, in fact, he conducted financial transactions on their behalf and obtained at least $400,000 from the victims, according to the plea agreement.

The forgery charges were brought after an investigation by the Blount County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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