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U.S. v. Tara Lee: Court Docket 19-CR-20128

In an effort to assist those individuals who have been affected by this case, this webpage has been developed to provide court and case related information. This does not replace written notification to those identified as victims of the charged offenses, it simply provides an additional resource from which to obtain information.

PLEASE NOTE:   Due to Courthouse renovations in Detroit, venue changes may occur.   Please check the posting for the location of the scheduled proceeding


2/26/2020 -   Judge Bernard A. Friedman sentenced Defendant Lee to 121 months incarceration, 3 years supervised release, and restititution to be paid to the victims.   Defendant Lee remains in custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons upon designation of the federal correctional facility where she will serve her sentence.


12/12/2019 - A Sentencing Hearing for Defendant Lee has been scheduled for February 26, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. before the Honorable Bernard A. Friedman.    

Please continue to check this website or contact the United States Attorney's Office for updates regarding this case.


11/21/2019 - The Court scheduled a Status Hearing for December 2, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. before the Honorable Bernard A. Friedman, United States District Court, 231 W. Lafayette, Detroit, MI 48226. 


11/20/2019 - On November 19, 2019, the Motion Hearing to address the Motion to Withdraw filed by defendant Lee's former counsel was cancelled suddenly due to illness.  Defendant Lee has hired a new attorney which necessitates an Order from the Court permitting the original counsel to drop off the case.  A new hearing date has not yet been scheduled.   Once scheduled, the date will be posted to this web page.   


10/24/2019 -  Judge Bernard A. Friedman filed a Notice today scheduling a Motion Hearing and adjourning defendant Tara Lee’s sentencing hearing.  On October 21, 2019 the defendant’s counsel filed a motion to withdraw from the case and a request to adjourn the sentencing hearing.  Judge Friedman will decide this motion on November 19, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. in United States District Court, 231 W. Lafayette, Detroit, MI 48226.     Please note: The sentencing hearing has been cancelled and it is anticipated that a new sentencing date will be scheduled at the November 19, 2019 Motion Hearing.     

Please continue to check this website or contact the United States Attorney’s Office for updates regarding this case.   


10/7/2019 - On October 2, 2019, defendant Enhelica Wiggins pled guilty to one count of wire fraud.  Her advisory guideline range is 21 - 27 months imprisonment.  Judge Friedman will make the final determination as to defendant Wiggins' ultimate sentence. 

A trial will no longer be necessary and instead, a sentencing hearing is now scheduled for January 21, 2020, 11:00 AM before Judge Bernard Friedman, United States District Court Courtroom 110, 231 West Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226 .

PLEASE NOTE: Please check this web page or contact the United States Attorney's Office to confirm court dates and times, as changes may occur with little notice.  

For a copy of the Plea Agreement, please click HERE


8/20/2019 - Tara Lee entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement. Lee pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, and admitted to all of the conduct outlined in the superseding indictment. Her advisory guideline range is 97-121 months.  Judge Friedman will make the final determination as to defendant Lee's ultimate sentence.  

A trial will no longer be necessary and instead, a sentencing hearing is now scheduled for November 19, 2019 at 11:30 a.m., before Judge Bernard Friedman. 

PLEASE NOTE: All hearings are currently scheduled to take place in the U.S. District Court, 200 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI before the Honorable Bernard Friedman.   As stated above, venue changes may occur.  It is recommended that you check this website or call Sandy Palazzolo at 313-226-9633 for venue location updates and to confirm hearing dates and times.

For a copy of the Plea Agreement, click HERE.


8/15/2019 - A tentative status hearing/possible plea hearing is scheduled before Judge Bernard Friedman for defendant Tara Lee on August 20, 2019, 10:30 AM.

A hearing before Judge Bernard Friedman regarding the detention or release of defendant Enhelica Wiggins is scheduled for October 2, 2019, 2:00 PM.


7/29/2019 - A Status Hearing has been scheduled for defendant Enhelica Wiggins to take place on November 6, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.   Defendant Wiggins' and defendant Lee's trial will take place on the same date, November 19, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.   

PLEASE NOTE: All hearings are currently scheduled to take place in the U.S. District Court, 200 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI before the Honorable Bernard Friedman.   As stated above, venue changes may occur.  It is recommended that you check this website or call Sandy Palazzolo at 313-226-9633 for venue location updates and to confirm hearing dates and times.     


7/24/2019 -  A new trial date has been scheduled for November 19, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.  

A Motion Hearing has been scheduled for July 30, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. addressing the defendant Tara Lee's renewed Motion for Revocation of Detention Order.   The defendant is requesting to be released from custody pending trial.   

The Trial and Motion Hearing are currently scheduled to take place at the U.S. District Court, 200 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, before the Honorable Bernard Friedman.  PLEASE NOTE: Please check this web page or contact the United States Attorney's Office to confirm court dates and times, as changes may occur with little notice.  


7/18/2019 - A federal grand jury returned a First Superseding Indictment against defendant Tara Lee charging her with additional counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  The new indictment also charges Enhelica Nieves Wiggins with three counts of wire fraud.  As a result of the filing of this First Superseding Indictment, the July 23, 2019 trial date has been cancelled.  

A Pretrial Conference Hearing will take place on July 23rd at 9:00 a.m. and it is expected that a new trial date will be scheduled.  PLEASE NOTE: This hearing will take place at U.S. District Court, 200 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI before the Honorable Bernard Friedman.  The new date will be posted to this website as soon as it is scheduled. 

To view the indictment, please click HERE.


5/17/2019 - Judge Bernard Friedman grants a request to adjourn trial of defendant Tara Lee.   A new trial date has been scheduled for July 23, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.    Please Note:  Due to courthouse renovations in Detroit, this trial will take place in Ann Arbor, MI.  Courthouse address: 200 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48107.   Please check this web page or contact the United States Attorney's Office to confirm court dates and times, as changes may occur with little notice. 


03/22/2019 - Judge Bernard Friedman entered an Order denying defendant's Motion To Set Aside The Order Of Detention and affirmed the Magistrat Judge's Detention Order.  A Plea Cutoff/Final Pretrial Conference has been scheduled for April 30, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.   A trial date has been scheduled for May 21, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.   Please check this web page or contact the United States Attorney's Office to confirm court dates and times, as changes may occur with little notice. 


03/21/2019 - On March 20, 2019 the Court scheduled a hearing to address the defendants Appeal of Detention Hearing.  This hearing will take place on March 21, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. before the Honorable Bernard A. Friedman. 


03/20/2019 - On March 20, 2019 the Court cancelled the Notice to Appear as to Tara Lynn Lee.  A new date and time has not been scheduled by the Court as of this posting.  Any updates will be posted to this webpage.


03/08/2019 - On March 7, 2019 a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Macomb County resident Tara Lynn Lee with eighteen counts of wire fraud. Lee operated in Michigan under the name Always Hope Pregnancy and Education Center. Neither Lee nor her organization were licensed by the State of Michigan to facilitate adoptions or match birth mothers to adoptive families. Yet from 2014 to 2018, Lee repeatedly paired birth mothers with adoptive parents. Lee represented herself to adoptive parents as a licensed social worker with a legitimate adoption agency.

The indictment sets forth specific allegations of wire fraud. On several occasions, Lee matched more than one set of adoptive parents to a birth mother. Other times, Lee matched adoptive parents with birth mothers that did not exist, were not pregnant, or had not decided to place their child into adoption. Lee accepted payment from prospective adoptive parents for these fraudulent matches. The indictment identifies over $200,000 that Lee received from fraudulent matches in 2018 alone.

The FBI Detroit Field Office is continuing to identify additional victims and investigate new allegations against Ms. Lee. The FBI requests and encourages anyone with information on Tara Lee or her organizations to contact the FBI’s hotline at 313-965-2227.

Please note that an indictment is only an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  At this time there are no court hearings or court appearance dates scheduled for this defendant.   Updates, to include scheduled court hearings, will be posted to this website as soon as they become available. 

To view a copy of the Indictment, please click here

Updated March 2, 2020