Judge used kids to feed gambling addiction

In a convoluted case of using state funds to feed her gambling addiction, an Oklahoma judge adopted twins she never cared for and placed them in an unsafe environment.

This case seems to justify Oklahoma's reputation for providing poor care for children by lacking appropriate follow-up services and highlights the lengths to which gambling addicts will stoop to feed their addiction.

Prosecutors say Oklahoma County Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure adopted twin orphans but never actually cared for the twins. All the while, she was still accepting money from the state.

Court papers say some of the money was spent at out-of-state spas, nail salons and casinos.



Judge Accused of Giving Away Adopted Twins, Spending Support Payments at Casinos and Spas

An Oklahoma judge and her husband are facing multiple perjury and fraudulent claims charges after accepting money from the state for the care of twins they initially took in as foster parents and subsequently adopted.

However, Oklahoma District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure and her husband, Karlos Antonio LeSure Sr., allegedly gave the twins, who were about 3 when they were adopted, to the judge's bailiff's sister, according to News9 and the Oklahoman.

While some of the money the couple received from the state went to the bailiff's sister, a portion was also reportedly spent by the judge at casinos and on nail salons and spa treatments, according to Scripps Media.

The prosecutor's office says the judge and her husband never actually took care of the twins, reports CNN.

Oklahoma County district judge pleads not guilty in fraud case

Of the children's placement by the judge:

The children, now 3, were taken Friday night by an attorney to Oklahoma County juvenile shelter.

The bailiff's sister, Ravonda Latrice Edwards, 40, was charged Monday with first-degree arson.

Prosecutors said they learned of the allegations against the judge from Oklahoma City Fire Department arson investigators.

Edwards is accused in the felony arson charge of burning a woman's clothes and mattress June 4 after the woman sought a protective order against her. The woman, Tiffany Henley, told a judge she and Edwards dated.

Edwards also is facing a separate felony assault charge for allegedly trying to stab Henley on May 21. Edwards also is accused of kidnapping Henley's young daughter. Henley told a judge, “She physically assaulted me and attempted to stab me with a knife saying she was going to kill me because I won't be in a relationship with her again. She slashed my tires and grabbed my child while she had knife in hand as leverage for me to come to her.”

Edwards could not be located for comment Monday. Her attorney last week withdrew from representing her further.

Edwards was a child-welfare worker for the Department of Human Services from June 2005 to January 2010. She would not have been eligible to be a foster parent herself for a child if she was directly assigned to the child's case.

The children were put into DHS custody at birth because their mother was a cocaine user, investigators reported. The mother, Kapri Whitehead, 27, said in television interviews Saturday she is better now and plans to see if she can get the twins back.