Prosecutors say Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang ran a surrogacy network and knew nannies were beating children. The couple pleaded not guilty; their lawyer disputes the allegations against Xuan.
Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang have been charged in California with child abuse and related offenses. Los Angeles County prosecutors allege that the Arcadia couple recruited surrogates and raised 21 children, some in their home and others elsewhere. The charges are allegations, not facts established at trial.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said nannies repeatedly beat the children while the couple watched through a camera system. Prosecutors allege that women recruited as surrogates were given false explanations: some were told Zhang could not conceive, while others were told the couple had only one child. The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times also reported the allegations, citing prosecutors and case materials.
Fifteen children were removed from the home last year after an abuse report; six more living elsewhere were also located. Prosecutors say the children ranged from two months to 13 years old, with most between one and three. Authorities believe Zhang gave birth to one or two children and the others were born to surrogates. Prosecutors say the couple ran an agency called Mark Surrogacy from their home.
Xuan and Zhang face several counts of child abuse, conspiracy, accessory after the fact and dissuading a witness. They pleaded not guilty in Pasadena. A judge set bail at $20 million each, ordered home detention and barred them from visiting the children. Prosecutors had requested $100 million bail per person, citing the seriousness of the charges and flight risk.
The couple's attorney, Mitchell Krems, called the bail amount excessive. He said Zhang's health should be considered as she is being treated for a rare form of leukemia after a bone marrow transplant. Krems rejected the allegation that Xuan took part in beatings and said he had fired the nanny accused of injuring an infant.
The investigation began in May 2025 after a hospital reported a head injury to a two-month-old child. Police did not file charges at the time, saying the investigation was ongoing. Prosecutors now allege that the home had rooms where children spent hours at desks under nannies' supervision and that surveillance recordings show abuse. Those claims will be tested in court.
Prosecutors also cited dozens of personal and business bank accounts, large transfers and assets found at the home. Deputy District Attorney MacKenzie Teymouri said a bank document showed more than $70 million in one account. The defense disputes the prosecution's account. The case remains under investigation, including the couple's motives and the parentage of each child, according to the district attorney.