The nonprofit Focus on Children (FOC) is winding down its corporate affairs and transferring adoption cases involving youngsters from countries other than Samoa to other organizations, lawyer Rebecca Hyde said.

Samoan adoptions already were halted as a result of the investigation of FOC.

"I suspect at the time this case goes to trial, Focus on Children may cease to exist as an entity," Hyde said at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate David Nuffer in Salt Lake City.

A federal grand jury issued a 135-count indictment in February charging FOC and seven of its operators with fraud and immigration violations. The indictment alleges that the defendants tricked and coerced Samoan birth parents into giving their children to the agency for adoption, then falsely told adoptive parents that the youngsters were orphans.

The charges pertain to 37 of the 81 Samoan children placed throughout the United States by FOC. A conspiracy charge also covers some alleged but uncharged acts by the defendants, who have pleaded not guilty.

At Monday's hearing, held to review how the case is progressing, prosecutor Dustin Pead said the government wants to go to trial as quickly as possible because the matter is so emotional to both birth and adoptive parents.

However, he acknowledged that it could take time to prepare for what is expected to be a six-week trial because of the thousands of pages of evidence. In addition, defense attorneys are planning to travel to Samoa this summer to interview witnesses.

Nuffer said it was too soon to set a trial date and scheduled another hearing for Sept. 4.

pmanson@sltrib.com