A California couple is facing felony charges after allegedly deceiving dozens of surrogate mothers into carrying children under false pretenses.
Authorities say the scheme resulted in 21 children, ranging from two months to 13 years old, being placed in protective custody.
Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, were arrested in May on felony child endangerment and neglect charges.
The pair, connected to a business called Mark Surrogacy, allegedly led multiple women from across the country to believe they were each carrying a child for a couple struggling with infertility — only to later discover they were part of a much larger, deceptive operation.
Suspicion began when a Texas woman named Kayla gave birth in March and learned her surrogate child had been placed in foster care just months later. She later discovered her case was one of many tied to the couple’s home in Arcadia, where Mark Surrogacy was registered.
Authorities launched an investigation after a two-month-old baby from the same household was hospitalized with head trauma. Multiple children were removed from the residence, triggering broader child abuse and neglect probes against the surrogacy business.
Kayla has since launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking custody of the child she delivered. Investigations remain ongoing.
