Cambodian adoption scandal

Cambodian adoption scandal

Date	1997–2004
Location	Cambodia and United States
Outcome	Over 700 children trafficked; U.S. moratorium on Cambodian adoptions; international adoption reforms
Charges	Conspiracy to commit visa fraud, money laundering, falsification of documents
Verdict	Guilty
Convictions	Lauryn Galindo Lynn Devin
Sentence	18 months for Galindo 6 months of home detention for Devin

The Cambodian adoption scandal was an international adoption fraud and child trafficking case that took place in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The perpetrators were Lauryn Galindo, an American adoption facilitator, and her sister Lynn Devin, who operated Seattle International Adoptions. Between 1997 and 2001, the pair arranged hundreds of adoptions of Cambodian children by families in the United States. Although many of the children were presented as orphans, later investigations found that some had living relatives and had been obtained through coercion, deception, or payments made to impoverished families.

Background

Lauryn Galindo began working in Cambodia in 1990. At the time, the country lacked a centralized authority to oversee international adoptions. Galindo presented herself as a humanitarian and developed ties with Cambodian officials, orphanage directors, and political figures.

Galindo worked in partnership with her sister, Lynn Devin, who managed U.S.-based logistics for their adoption business. Galindo coordinated the Cambodian side of the operation by identifying children, preparing documentation, and obtaining official approvals. Devin oversaw client intake, visa paperwork, and financial arrangements in the United States.

From 1997 to 2001, the two facilitated between 700 and 800 adoptions. Families typically paid between $10,000 and $11,000 per adoption. Galindo maintained close relationships with high-level Cambodian officials, including Senate President Chea Sim and First Lady Bun Rany. She was reported to have made financial contributions to them during this period.

Emergence of concerns

By the late 1990s, adoptive families, journalists, and human rights groups began raising concerns about the legitimacy of Cambodian adoptions. In several cases, American parents discovered that children described as orphans had living parents. Some met biological relatives during the adoption process or encountered conflicting accounts from orphanage staff. In one well-publicized case, an adoptive mother was asked to tip a woman introduced as a nanny, who turned out to be the child's birth mother. In another, families were told to make "donations" that were later revealed to be payments to the child's family.

Investigations later revealed that Galindo's network frequently submitted U.S. visa applications falsely claiming children had no known relatives. Court filings showed that birth families were often misled into believing the adoption was temporary, or were given token payments in exchange for relinquishing their children. Some adoptions were finalized using false affidavits of abandonment and forged medical records, making it appear that children were eligible under U.S. orphan visa requirements.

Despite mounting evidence of irregularities, adoption processing continued into 2001. Cambodia's lack of a centralized adoption authority and inconsistent provincial oversight made it difficult for officials to prevent abuse of the system.

Legal proceedings

In 2003, a grand jury indicted Galindo and Devin on 17 counts, including conspiracy to commit visa fraud and money laundering. Galindo was arrested in January 2004. She initially denied wrongdoing but later pleaded guilty to submitting false visa applications and laundering over $150,000 through Cambodian bank accounts. She also admitted to structuring more than $100,000 in cash deposits to avoid federal reporting requirements.

Galindo was sentenced to 18 months in prison, ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution, and required to forfeit a beachfront home and luxury car. Devin pleaded guilty in December 2003 and received a lighter sentence due to her cooperation with investigators. She served six months of home detention and paid a $30,000 fine.

Federal officials described the operation as a wide-reaching conspiracy involving adoption fraud, tax evasion, and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Impact

Investigators estimated that 700 to 800 children had been adopted under false pretenses. In many cases, families in Cambodia had been promised that the adoption was temporary or educational. Some were offered payments or gifts in exchange for relinquishing their children.

Many of these children lost all connection to their birth families due to falsified records. In the United States, adoptive parents later learned they had been misled. Some expressed guilt and emotional distress after discovering their child had not been orphaned. The U.S. government concluded that adoptive parents had acted in good faith and did not reverse the adoptions.

The scandal also had lasting effects on international adoption systems. Several Cambodian orphanages were closed, and other countries placed restrictions on Cambodian adoptions. The case became a reference point in debates about ethics and oversight in cross-border adoption.

Reforms and aftermath

In December 2001, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, in cooperation with the State Department, suspended all adoptions from Cambodia due to concerns about child trafficking and widespread document fraud. This was followed by a federal investigation known as Operation Broken Hearts. U.S. law enforcement agencies uncovered that between 1997 and 2001, hundreds of adoptions had been fraudulently processed and millions of dollars laundered through Cambodian and offshore accounts.

In the years that followed, Cambodia faced international pressure to reform its adoption practices. In 2007, Cambodia ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Two years later, the Cambodian government passed a new intercountry adoption law that banned independent facilitators and established centralized oversight under the Ministry of Social Affairs. The law required that all adoptions be processed through a designated central authority and that children's backgrounds be thoroughly vetted to confirm eligibility.

Although the legal framework improved, international observers continued to express concern about local enforcement, corruption, weak institutional capacity, and uneven provincial implementation undermined the new system's credibility. As a result, the U.S. has continued to maintain its suspension on adoptions from Cambodia.

In the United States, the case contributed to the passage of stricter adoption regulations. In 2008, the Hague Adoption Convention was implemented domestically, requiring accreditation of all adoption agencies working with Hague countries. The law also mandated background checks, ethical standards training, and clear documentation practices.

The Cambodian adoption scandal remains widely cited in academic studies and international policy forums as an example of how unregulated demand for intercountry adoption can lead to exploitation and child trafficking. It is frequently used as a case study to support calls for greater oversight, transparency, and emphasis on family preservation within adoption systems.

Galindo completed her sentence in 2006 and returned to Hawaii. She has continued to claim her work was motivated by humanitarian goals, although she has not apologized to the families affected. Adoptees have uncovered discrepancies in their records and have turned to DNA testing, online forums, and NGOs in search of their birth families.

Public response

The case drew widespread attention from American and international media. A 2005 segment on ABC's 20/20 included emotional interviews with adoptive families and highlighted discrepancies in the adoption process. Community forums like Cambodia Expats Online and organizations such as the Belonging Network have continued to document the case's legacy and educate the public about ethical adoption.

Adult adoptees have since launched advocacy campaigns and documentaries aimed at tracing their histories and advocating for transparency in adoption practices.