3 kids linked to alleged Chicago child-smuggler taken

Three children connected to Esi Antobam, under investigation for possible child-smuggling, were made wards of the state Monday by a Will County judge.

"The environment is injurious to these children because of what has come to light,'' Will County State's Attorney Jeff Tomczak said.

Antobam, who is in federal custody, is being investigated by the U.S. attorney's office and the Immigration and Naturalization Service to determine whether she used three adopted former Department of Children and Family Services wards in a smuggling operation that may have involved the sale or trade of children. Those three are thought to be living in Ghana.

But Antobam left three more children--ages 16, 10 and 8--with an ex-husband who has no legal standing as a parent or guardian, Tomczak said. A judge found they had been neglected and made them wards of the state Monday, Tomczak said. The children, who were living in Bolingbrook, are in the care of DCFS, Tomczak said.

Antobam is scheduled to appear in Will County court Feb. 19 at 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, Esi Antobam, who is being investigated for a scam involving the smuggling children from Ghana to USA (READ) has been refused bail.

One Ofori went to bail the lady, but was denied bail because the woman is a flight risk.

The state Department of Children and Family Services is on the hunt for the three missing brothers, former DCFS wards, who were adopted by a woman now in federal custody.

The woman, Esi Antobam, reportedly told authorities the children were in good hands . . . but has changed her story several times.

Word is DCFS officials visited the orphanage Antobam claimed to own in Ghana, but the boys were not there. It is not known how long the boys had been missing, but numerous passports have been found in their last residence and Antobam is being charged with felony alien smuggling.

*When Antobam, who is from Ghana, appeared in federal court Monday, she requested an interpreter.