Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced 36 criminal charges against Joel and Tammy Brown and Jerry and Tamal Flore, all of Dewitt. The Browns and Flores are accused of adopting children for financial gain and subjecting the children to abuse under the guise of discipline.
The charges, filed in the 65A District Court in Clinton County, arise from evidence of abuse against eight of the dozens of children adopted through their homes since 2007. Nearly 30 children have been either adopted or fostered through the Brown and Flore homes.
Joel Brown is a former Michigan Department of Health and Human Services employee, where he worked within the Children’s Services Agency Office of Advocate for Children, Youth, and Families. It is alleged that Brown used his expertise in the field of child abuse investigations and Child Protection laws to circumvent the detection of the ongoing child abuse in his own home and that of the Flores.
“Children who end up in our foster care or adoption systems are often already coming from unbelievably vulnerable situations and deserve our utmost care,” said Nessel. “The Brown and Flore families preyed upon dozens of children who were removed from previously abusive biological homes and subjected the children to prolonged routine and systemic mental and physical abuse under the guise of discipline. These two families have adopted or fostered at least 30 children toward an end of immense financial gain.
“These egregious allegations highlight not only a moral and legal failure of those entrusted with the children’s care but a failure in our systems to ensure children placed in custody are properly taken care of.”
Joel Brown, 54, faces five charges:
- Count 1: Child Abuse 1st Degree, a potential life-sentence felony;
- Count 2: Conspiracy to Commit Child Abuse 2nd Degree, a 10-year felony;
- Count 3: Child Abuse 3rd Degree, a 2-year felony;
- Count 4: Interfering with a Crime Report a 1-year misdemeanor; and
- Count 5: Failure to Report Child Abuse, a 93-day misdemeanor.
Tammy Brown, 53, faces three charges:
- Count 1: Child Abuse 1st Degree, a potential life-sentence felony;
- Count 2: Conspiracy to Commit Child Abuse 2nd Degree, a 10-year felony; and
- Count 3: Child Abuse 3rd Degree, a 2-year felony.
Jerry Flore, 58, faces 11 charges:
- Counts 1-6: Child Abuse 1st Degree, a potential life-sentence felony;
- Count 7: Child Abuse 1st Degree Committed in the Presence of Another Child, a potential life-sentence felony;
- Count 8: Conspiracy to Commit Child Abuse 2nd Degree, a 10-year felony;
- Count 9: Child Abuse 2nd Degree, a 10-year felony;
- Count 10: Child Abuse 2nd Degree, a 10-year felony; and
- Count 11: Interfering with a Crime Report, a 1-year misdemeanor.
Tamal Flore, 56, faces 17 charges:
- Counts 1-6: Child Abuse 1st Degree, a potential life-sentence felony;
- Count 7: Child Abuse 1st Degree Committed in the Presence of Another Child, a potential life-sentence felony;
- Count 8: Conspiracy to Commit Child Abuse 2nd Degree, a 10-year felony;
- Count 9-10: Child Abuse 2nd Degree, a 10-year felony;
- Counts 11-16: Child Abuse 3rd Degree, a 2-year felony; and
- Count 17: Interfering with a Crime Report, a 1-year misdemeanor.
The Browns and Flores were previously charged for abuse allegations. The Department of Attorney General (DAG) worked with the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office and Clinton County Sheriff’s Office to take over this matter and assist with the investigation earlier this year following a preliminary exam. In the previous Clinton County proceedings, prior charges against Tammy Brown and Joel Brown were dismissed and charges against Tamal Flore and Jerry Flore were reduced. As a result of the re-opened investigation, any outstanding charges against the defendants were subsequently dropped.
The DAG’s investigation has included previous investigative documents obtained by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, as well as:
- Interviews with 10 of the adopted children (adults and minors), Child Protective Services and DHHS employees;
- Photos and videos from the home;
- Adoption subsidy payment and medical benefit records; and
- New medical evaluations on all potential victims.
As a result of the new investigation, the DAG has determined there is sufficient evidence to charge all four suspects with the above-mentioned charges.
“I am proud of the efforts taken by my department, members of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, local victim support organizations, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services who worked diligently to ensure justice is served and that the Browns and Flores will never be able to adopt again,” Nessel added.
Arrest warrants have been processed for all four defendants who have until Friday, December 8th to voluntarily turn themselves in.