And just so you know, anyone on here who has known me for a few years (and I can name 7 who have known me for 10 years) will tell you I loathe that word. And I never use it. Ever. But you invoke such extreme negativity in me that I just can't help myself. You cunt.
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Woman sentenced in adoption scam Correspondent: Kevin Murphy, The Republican Eagle Published Wednesday, April 01, 2009 MADISON, Wis. - Ignoring a recommended probation-only sentence, a federal judge imposed Wednesday a four-month prison term on a Red Wing woman in connection with an adoption fraud scheme.
Melissa Christiansen, 31, only sought the attention of others by falsely posting on the Internet that she was pregnant and wanted someone to adopt her baby, said her attorney federal defender Michael Lieberman.
When four women from Ohio, Virginia, Arkansas and Texas contacted Christiansen between September 2003 and July 2006 she asked them to submit reference letters supporting their bid to adopt a non-existent baby and send her money for maternity expenses. She even asked one women to repaint their nursery and buy different baby furniture perpetuating a fraud that would emotionally devastated all the victims, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman. RELATED CONTENT The Republican Eagle Talk About It Icon Article comments (7) Instead of greed or intent to hurt anyone, Christiansen "engaged in this scheme because it was the only way she could think of to make people care about her. During the time that her victims thought she was pregnant, they treated her well and with respect. As misguided as this admittedly was, Christiansen's sole motivation was to obtain positive attention," Lieberman wrote the court.
A year before she was indicted on 16 counts of wire and mail fraud, Christiansen appeared on two episodes of the "Dr Phil" show where three of the women confronted her. Christiansen, who lived in Maiden Rock at the time, told them why she did it, and allowed them to ask her questions and express their anguish over being told there was no baby to adopt.
"Her victims were hurt but, unlike the thousands of other defendants who been in this courtroom, these victims got more from Melissa than anyone else has ... she has nothing more to give them," Lieberman said.
Altman asked District Judge Barbara Crabb to lengthen Christiansen's sentence as she exploited "vulnerable victims" who were desperate to have a child.
Christiansen even told one woman en route to the Minneapolis airport to visit Christiansen that her baby had died. The news left the women in shocked "unable to stand or walk," Altman said reading from the victim's statement.
In a tearful statement, Christiansen said she wished the women were present so she could apologize again for her "stupid, stupid, selfish decisions ... and hope that someday they will forgive me for the pain I've caused them."
Crabb agreed that the Christiansen's sentence should reflect impact the offense had on the women whose inability to have children made them "unable to rationally exercise skepticism" over Christiansen's prolonged scheme.
Crabb also noted that Christiansen "has turned her life around," getting counseling after appearing on "Dr Phil" for her methamphetamine addiction, attending college to become a substance abuse counselor, marrying and making a positive impact on her husband's life.
"You're even working well with husband's ex-wife to raise his child together," Crabb said.
But Crabb said she was sentencing Christiansen not for who she was become but for the "very bad crime you've committed."
In order to complete the current semester, Crabb gave Christiansen until June 3 to report to prison. Crabb also placed Christiansen on two years probation and pay $1,990 in restitution to two of her victims.
