Multiple Michigan Couples, Including Former State Employee, Charged with 36 Counts of Child Abuse

Attorney General Dana Nessel has charged two Lansing area couples with 36 criminal child abuse charges, alleging that they subjected children to prolonged mental and physical abuse for personal financial gain. The charges include former state employee Joel Brown, his wife Tammy Brown, Jerry Flore, and Tamal Flore. The couples are accused of adopting dozens of children who were removed from abusive homes and collecting over $1 million tax-free through the adoption subsidy program. The charges come months after previous charges against the couples were dismissed. Each of the individuals charged faces at least one count of first-degree child abuse, which carries a penalty of up to life in prison.