MANATEE — A 22-year-old Bradenton woman has been charged with trying to sell her 8-week-old son to her sister with her mother’s help, according to authorities.
Stephanie Sharrea Bigbee Davis Fleming is the third person charged in the case. Last week, Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents arrested her mother, Patty Bigbee, 45, and Lawrence Works, 42, in Holly Hill for their roles in the alleged scheme.
The investigation began in late October after Bigbee offered to sell the infant for $75,000 to another daughter she gave up for adoption 26 years ago.
That daughter, who informed authorities about the offer, lives in Tampa. After reconnecting on Facebook, she had told Bigbee that she wanted to have more children.
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Bigbee told the Tampa woman that she was caring for her 8-week-old abandoned grandson and didn’t want to do it anymore, stating that she wasn’t mother material, according to an arrest report. Records show Bigbee had previously contacted the Department of Children and Families to give up the child.
Bigbee then told the Tampa woman that she could purchase the child for $75,000 and become his legal guardian, the report states.
After a series of negotiations, the price for purchase of the infant was agreed upon at $30,000, according to an arrest report.
An undercover FDLE agent posed as a paralegal to facilitate the deal.
On Nov. 5, Works and Bigbee brought the baby to be exchanged for a $30,000 cashiers check in Daytona Beach, the report states.
Since the arrest, the baby has been in the custody of DCF.
Fleming is being held on a $50,000 bond at the Manatee County jail, according to the report.
Fleming wanted to use her share of the money — $9,000 — to purchase a car.
Fleming was previously arrested in Orange County for organized fraud in 2007. She had a warrant for her arrest for violating probation, according to reports.
Bigbee said Fleming and her husband wanted to have more kids so they could get more money, according to the report. Fleming’s husband has not been charged in the case.
“The investigation is still active and ongoing,” said Heather Smith, a spokeswoman for FDLE. “We are looking at whether others are involved.”
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