By MICHAEL PEARSON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitutio n
Published on: 10/03/06
Alpharetta police have opened a criminal investigation into allegations
an international adoption services company formerly headquartered in the
city may have misused $500,000 in fees paid by prospective parents.
The company, Amrex Inc., now operates out of offices in Atlanta and is
well-known in international adoption circles for providing overseas
legwork to stateside adoption agencies that help U.S. residents adopt
foreign-born children.
Alpharetta police opened the file on Amrex after the director of a
Woodstock adoption agency reported the company had not paid adoption
fees or refunded deposits paid by some prospective parents.
Genesis, the complaining adoption agency, was founded by Amrex CEO
Sergey Zasyatkin but recently severed ties with Amrex, according to
Genesis Executive Director Lindsay Kirk. She said she discovered the
problems shortly before Amrex filed for bankruptcy on Sept. 21.
Kirk's suspicion was piqued after a couple called to complain that a
Guatemalan attorney shepherding their adoption there called to ask for
the second half of their adoption fees. Genesis records showed the
couple had paid in full. Amrex should have paid those funds to officials
in Guatemala, Kirk said.
Kirk said she has no direct evidence of wrongdoing, but estimated as
much as $500,000 could be missing....
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