Tennessee Woman Sentenced for Adoption Scam

Gabryele Watson, 30, of Tennessee, received a 20-month federal prison term on Friday after pleading guilty to stalking, identity theft, and threats of kidnapping and murder. Prosecutors say she spent seven years impersonating pregnant teens to lure would-be adoptive parents.

CNN

Watson stole identities of pregnant teens from social media and called adoptive parents, posing as the teen, a boyfriend, or a relative. She never asked for money but repeatedly threatened drug use that could harm a nonexistent baby, threatened to kill the couples’ children, and mocked adoptive mothers for infertility. Victims said the calls were frequent enough that they bought headsets. She used a voice changer, regularly wiped her phone, and recorded interviews for a TV series. Three years before her arrest she appeared on *Dr. Phil*, where her father described her “severe mental problems” after their mother’s death in 2012.

CNN

The operation spanned roughly seven years and targeted thousands of couples, according to court documents. Watson’s sentence is 20 months, and she was placed in inpatient treatment twice after threatening suicide during prosecution.

CNN

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said Watson’s sentence reflects the “real-world devastation” of her online harassment. The FBI said it continues to contact potential victims to finish its investigation. Prosecutors noted mental-health issues do not excuse the emotional harm inflicted.

CNN

Victims called the scheme relentless terror, citing murder threats and the need to buy call-handling equipment. Watson’s five siblings have cut ties, and her father publicly pleaded for help, highlighting family distress. Defense cited severe mental-health challenges, but prosecutors insisted accountability.

CNN

One Tennessee couple said a friend found Watson’s social-media profile, showing she never intended to surrender the twins she claimed to be carrying. Their daily life was disrupted by nonstop calls, some escalating to threats of killing their children.

CNN

Prosecutors say Watson never demanded money, but the scam’s financial scope is undocumented. Defense arguments about her mental state are sealed, limiting insight. The FBI’s outreach shows the total number of affected families remains unknown.

CNN

• “cruelly led on couples seeking to adopt a baby, only to later emotionally abuse them, including threatening to terminate the pregnancy and mocking adoptive mothers for not being able to conceive,” — A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General

CNN

• “She just thinks that it’s not fair that she can’t experience that part of life.” — Watson’s father, *Dr. Phil* interview

CNN

The FBI continues to locate additional victims and finish its investigation. Watson will serve her 20-month term and could face civil suits from the couples she targeted.

CNN