Va. woman who faked pregnancy pleads guilty in adoption case

By The Associated Press
June 27, 2019 | 9:49 AM

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (AP) 鈥� A Virginia woman who faked being pregnant to dupe a California couple who hoped to adopt the baby has pleaded guilty and will serve two years in prison.

The Orange County Register reports Elizabeth Jones’ trial ended abruptly during jury selection Wednesday when she decided to change her plea.

Prosecutor Chuck Slemp made the announcement on the steps of the courthouse in Scott County, Virginia, flanked by Laura and Matt Trayte of Lake Forest, California. The Traytes had been expecting to testify in the case against Jones.

Last year the Traytes flew to Virginia to adopt the baby that Jones told them she would be delivering. She admitted later that she had never been pregnant.

Jones pleaded guilty to eight felonies including obtaining money by false pretense.

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Information from: The Orange County Register, http://www.ocregister.com

Sterling man charged in fentanyl case linked to Park View High School overdoses, sheriff says

By Matt Small
August 25, 2026 | 2:37 PM

A Sterling, Virginia, man has been arrested and charged in a fentanyl distribution investigation that the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said is connected to overdoses involving Park View High School students. The sheriff's office said Isaac Melendez-Carranza, 31, was charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of sale of drugs near certain properties. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office told WTOP that Melendez-Carranza is in the U.S. illegally and that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement "has placed a detainer on him." Investigators with the Drug and Gang Unit identified Melendez-Carranza as a suspected dealer connected to overdoses involving Park View High School students in May, according to the sheriff's office.