California couple arrested on child abuse charges in surrogacy case
Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang were taken into custody in Arcadia, California, facing charges that include conspiracy to commit child abuse and witness intimidation.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced Tuesday that Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang have been arrested on multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit child abuse and dissuading a witness, and he is seeking a $100 million bail. The arrests were carried out by detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at the couple’s Arcadia residence and the pair were transferred to the Pasadena courthouse for arraignment, Sheriff Robert Luna said.
The investigation, which began after a two-month-old boy was brought to a hospital with a head injury in May 2025, led to a raid of the mansion in July 2025 that resulted in 21 children, most born via surrogacy, being placed in state custody. A subsequent FBI search warrant was also executed at the home.
"What has been publicly filed in the complaint today is incredibly disturbing. It involves horrific punishment and beatings and child abuse," Hochman said at a news conference.
Attorney Melissa Brisman, representing two surrogates in the case, said the arrests demonstrate accountability and emphasized the need for safeguards in the surrogacy system. "We need to make sure bad actors don't ruin it for everyone else," she added.
Surrogate Maria Castellanos, who carried two of the children, expressed anger that the situation was not prevented earlier, stating, "I trusted Silvia."
Law enforcement officials indicated that the case will continue to be investigated jointly by the Arcadia Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI, with a focus on securing justice for the children involved.