California Couple Under Investigation After Alleged Surrogacy Scheme and Infant Injury Leads to Custody of 21 Children
- Victor Nwoko
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
A Southern California couple is under federal and local investigation after authorities removed 21 children—most born through surrogacy—from their home following the hospitalization of their 2-month-old infant with a traumatic head injury. The case has raised serious concerns about alleged surrogacy abuse, potential fraud, and child endangerment.
The couple, 38-year-old Silvia Zhang and 65-year-old Guojun Xuan, came under scrutiny in May after their baby was brought to a hospital with injuries attributed to violent shaking by a nanny. Arcadia police say the incident prompted further investigation, uncovering a complex web involving multiple surrogate mothers, misleading contracts, and possible violations of child welfare laws.
The children, ranging in age from 2 months to 13 years—most of them between 1 and 3—were placed in protective custody. Officials say some of the children’s birth certificates list Zhang as the mother and Xuan as the father, including documents from outside California. The FBI is also reportedly involved in the ongoing investigation.
Esperanza, one of at least eight women approached by the couple to serve as a surrogate, shared her experience. She said she withdrew from the arrangement after Zhang offered her $60,000 to carry a child and then asked if she had any friends interested in surrogacy. Esperanza said she grew uncomfortable due to inconsistent details and pressure tactics. A contract sent to her specified two embryos would be implanted instead of one, and the section requesting background information on the intended parents was missing. The couple became upset when she refused to proceed.
Text messages provided by Esperanza show Zhang offering her additional financial incentives, including a $3,000 increase and a $2,000 bonus upon detecting a fetal heartbeat. Esperanza also reported that the couple’s lawyer abruptly ended a call when she raised concerns.
Another woman, Kayla Elliott, a Texas resident who did carry a child for the couple, is now seeking custody of the baby girl she delivered in March. Elliott was initially contacted by Mark Surrogacy, a company tied to the couple, and agreed to a $65,000 contract. The embryo transfer was performed at Western Fertility Institute in Los Angeles, which declined to comment on the case.
Elliott said she became suspicious when only Xuan showed up during an in-person meeting in California. Throughout her pregnancy, communication with the couple was limited, and messages were relayed through agency intermediaries who discouraged direct contact.
Elliott reported that neither Zhang nor Xuan was present during the birth. Zhang arrived hours later, briefly interacted with the newborn, handed Elliott $2,000 in cash, and gave $200 each to three family members in the delivery room before leaving with the baby.
Other women who claim to have been surrogates for the couple described concerning behavior including lack of contact, non-fulfillment of financial obligations, and absence at childbirth. Several said they were first-time surrogates who were misled about the couple’s intentions and circumstances. Some are now considering legal action.
Zhang and Xuan told authorities they wanted a large family and presented what appeared to be legitimate documentation. However, authorities are now exploring the legitimacy of their surrogacy operations and whether the couple intentionally misled women across the country for questionable purposes.
Arcadia police are continuing their investigation into possible child abuse and anticipate presenting charges in the coming weeks.
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