Surrogacy Scandal Unfolds Around Injured Infant, 21 Children \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A woman backed out of a surrogacy deal after uncovering red flags involving a Southern California couple now under investigation. Authorities say the couple had 21 children, many via surrogates, and are probing allegations of fraud and possible abuse. A shaken surrogate now seeks custody of a baby she birthed for the couple.
Quick Looks
- California couple under investigation after infant hospitalized with head injury.
- Authorities removed 21 children from their custody, most born via surrogacy.
- FBI investigating possible surrogate fraud and misuse of birth certificates.
- Surrogate “Esperanza” declined $60K offer after suspicious red flags.
- Surrogate Kayla Elliott now seeking custody of baby she delivered in March.
- Women say they were misled about couple’s identity, background, and intentions.
- Surrogates say payments weren’t fulfilled, and parents skipped births.
- Surrogacy agency Mark Surrogacy now under scrutiny; records show inconsistencies.
- Fertility clinic involved in transfers has declined to comment.
- Advocates call for stronger oversight of surrogacy contracts and regulation.
Deep Look
An investigation into a Southern California couple has shaken the surrogacy community after authorities removed 21 children—most of them babies and toddlers—from their custody and began probing claims of fraud, exploitation, and possible child abuse.
The case emerged in Arcadia, near Los Angeles, after a 2-month-old child was taken to a hospital in May with a traumatic head injury. The couple, Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, were arrested shortly afterward. Police later disclosed that nearly two dozen children were living under their care—most believed to have been born through surrogate pregnancies arranged across state lines.
Zhang and Xuan are now the subject of a joint local and federal investigation, with the FBI reportedly exploring whether the couple misrepresented themselves to surrogate mothers and fertility clinics. The scope of the inquiry is expanding, according to Lt. Kollin Cieadlo of the Arcadia Police Department, and could include charges related to surrogacy fraud, child endangerment, and immigration violations.
Surrogates Speak Out
One of the first red flags came from Esperanza, a woman who almost became a surrogate for the couple in 2023. After posting in a Facebook group for prospective surrogates, she was contacted directly by Zhang, who offered her $60,000 to carry a child.
Zhang claimed she had one daughter in China and wanted to expand her family through surrogacy. But Esperanza became uneasy when Zhang asked if she had any friends who would also consider carrying children. “She said she was a realtor and had the money to afford several surrogates,” Esperanza said. “That’s when I started to question things.”
Contract discussions raised further concerns. The surrogacy agreement listed two embryos for transfer instead of one and omitted background verification of the intended parents. A lawyer representing the couple abruptly ended a call with her, and shortly after, Zhang tried to offer an additional $5,000 bonus to continue.
Feeling pressured and alarmed, Esperanza declined and walked away. “They were upset. But I couldn’t go through with it,” she said.
A Surrogate Wants Her Baby Back
Kayla Elliott, a Texas woman, was not so fortunate. She signed on with Mark Surrogacy, a company now linked to Zhang and Xuan, and gave birth to a baby girl for them in March.
Her journey began when she was contacted via Facebook and offered $65,000 to serve as a surrogate. But Elliott says she became suspicious early on—only Xuan met her in person during a visit to California, and most communication came through agency intermediaries.
“They kept saying the couple was busy. I wasn’t allowed to reach out to them directly,” she told The Associated Press.
As her pregnancy progressed, Elliott learned that at least two other women were also carrying babies for the same couple. The agency explained it away as a desire for a “big family.” When she gave birth, only Zhang showed up—hours later, with little reaction to the newborn.
“She didn’t even look at her,” Elliott recalled. “She handed me $2,000 in cash, gave $200 each to three of my family members, and left with the baby.”
Now Elliott is fighting for custody of the child she carried, arguing that the couple misled her and endangered the baby. She has shared text messages with Zhang that include statements like: “All the babies really important in our life.”
Investigation Widens
The FBI’s involvement suggests the investigation may extend beyond Arcadia or California. Authorities suspect the couple used fake or misleading birth certificates, some issued in other states, that listed Zhang as the biological mother of the children. In at least some cases, Xuan is listed as the father.
The legal ambiguity surrounding surrogacy contracts, especially when they involve out-of-state or international arrangements, may have allowed the couple to evade oversight. California’s surrogacy-friendly laws make it a destination for hopeful parents—but also a target for abuse.
State records show Mark Surrogacy Investments LLC was registered to the couple’s home until June. Another listed address in El Monte yielded no results when visited by reporters. Mark Surrogacy has not responded to inquiries, and a fertility clinic that performed at least one embryo transfer declined to comment.
On social media, other surrogates have begun speaking out anonymously, claiming that they too were misled or never received full payment. Some say the couple did not attend births and cut off communication afterward.
Systemic Failures
Experts and advocacy groups say this case underscores the urgent need for greater regulation and transparency in the surrogacy industry.
“There are too many gaps,” said one legal expert in reproductive law. “We’re relying on private agencies, text messages, and unverifiable documents. When multiple babies are born in parallel, with little oversight and no consistent presence of the intended parents—it’s a recipe for disaster.”
Community members have also raised questions about how the couple managed to house and care for 21 children, many of whom were infants or toddlers, without raising red flags sooner. The children reportedly range in age from 2 months to 13 years, with most under the age of three.
A Case That Could Reshape Surrogacy Oversight
For now, no formal charges have been filed against Zhang and Xuan, but police say charges—including child abuse—are expected soon. Detectives are working to complete the investigation, and some children are undergoing medical evaluations and trauma assessments in state custody.
Meanwhile, surrogates like Esperanza and Elliott are speaking out to warn others. “They seemed like they wanted a family,” Elliott said. “But I think they wanted something else entirely.”
Esperanza agreed. “If something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it. I’m just thankful I didn’t go through with it.”
Surrogacy Scandal Unfolds Surrogacy Scandal Unfolds Surrogacy Scandal Unfolds
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