Don LeFevre, director of the LDS press relations, issues a statement warning that "privately arranged placement of any children without a licensed agency's sanction is frequently in violation of local or national law. Church officers or members should not be involved in such arrangements." Recently a baby-smuggling ring, which sold some infants to childless had been broken and Nelda Karen Cotwell of Layton, Utah, convicted for conspiring to illegally bring Mexican infants into the United States and sell them..
June 14, 1984 - Nelda Karen Cotwell of Layton, Utah, is convicted, in Laredo, Texas, of conspiring to illegally bring Mexican infants into the United States and sell them. Following Cotwell's arrest in early February [1984], several reports appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram linking "a growing number of Mormons" to an "international adoption ring." In response, Don LeFevre, director of the LDS church's press relations, issues a statement [Feb.15,1984] warning that "privately arranged placement of any children without a licensed agency's sanction is frequently in violation of local or national law. Church officers or members should not be involved in such arrangements."
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