Couple Accused of Surrogacy Scam Seeking 'President' Among 26 Children

Chinese couple Guojun Xuan and Silvia Zhang allegedly exploited California's surrogacy laws to amass a 'small armada' of children, hoping one would become U.S. president.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Guojun Xuan, 65, and his partner Silvia Zhang, 38, were arrested in May 2025 on suspicion of child abuse after allegedly running a surrogacy scam that resulted in at least 26 children born to various surrogates. Employees claimed Xuan, described as a 'rich man who wants a lot of kids,' hoped one of the children would grow up to become the president of the United States. The couple allegedly used Xuan's sperm and an anonymous egg donor to have the children through their own surrogacy agency, Mark Surrogacy, exploiting California's lax surrogacy laws. Several of the children were even named after prominent U.S. and foreign leaders, suggesting Xuan's desire for political power.

Why it matters

This case highlights the lack of regulation around commercial surrogacy in the United States, which has allowed unscrupulous individuals to exploit the system for their own gain. It also raises concerns about child welfare and the potential for human trafficking, as the couple allegedly had children with the goal of securing American citizenship benefits and possibly selling them. The story underscores the need for stronger oversight and protections in the surrogacy industry to prevent such abuses.

The details

Xuan and Zhang allegedly opened their own surrogacy agency, Mark Surrogacy, at their multi-million dollar mansion in Arcadia, California, posing as an unmarried couple desperate to give their daughter a sibling. They attracted dozens of women, ranging from lesbians to traditional wives, to carry their children, with each surrogate believing she was the only one carrying for the couple. However, the couple already had 13 children at the time Kayla Elliott, a surrogate from Texas, was halfway through her pregnancy. Xuan is the sole biological parent of all the children, giving him legal rights, but the couple only completed the necessary pre-birth orders in some cases to solidify their parentage. California is seen as a prime state for surrogacy arrangements due to its lax laws, but the couple allegedly went a step further by opening their own agency to establish a pipeline between themselves and surrogates.

  • In spring 2021, Zhang gave birth to one of Xuan's sons.
  • In summer 2022, Zhang gave birth to another premature son of Xuan's.
  • In May 2025, Xuan and Zhang were arrested on suspicion of child abuse and neglect after a 2-month-old baby in their care was brought to a local hospital with a traumatic brain injury.

The players

Guojun Xuan

A 65-year-old Chinese man who, along with his partner Silvia Zhang, allegedly ran a surrogacy scam that resulted in at least 26 children born to various surrogates. Xuan is described as a 'rich man who wants a lot of kids' and is the sole biological parent of all the children, giving him legal rights.

Silvia Zhang

A 38-year-old woman who, along with her partner Guojun Xuan, allegedly ran a surrogacy scam that resulted in at least 26 children born to various surrogates. Zhang gave birth to two of Xuan's sons, but the couple allegedly continued to have more children through their surrogacy agency.

Kayla Elliott

A mother of four from Texas who was a surrogate for Xuan and Zhang. Elliott did not know the couple already had 13 children until she was halfway through her pregnancy.

Mark Surrogacy

The surrogacy agency that Xuan and Zhang allegedly operated out of their multi-million dollar mansion in Arcadia, California, to amass the children.

Andrea Cid

A former coordinator for Mark Surrogacy who dismissed the notion that the couple was trafficking the children, stating that if there was trafficking, the children wouldn't be in the home.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of rich people, they want to do sex parties or drugs. But he just wants to have more kids.”

— Melody Song, Former aide to Xuan and Zhang (The New Yorker)

“Why would they think it's trafficking if there's children in the home? If there was trafficking, the children wouldn't be there.”

— Andrea Cid, Former Mark Surrogacy coordinator (The New Yorker)

“They definitely don't have a million kids lol.”

— Unnamed Mark Surrogacy coordinator (The New Yorker)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Xuan and Zhang to be released on bail as the state child abuse investigation continues.

The takeaway

This case highlights the urgent need for stronger regulations and oversight in the surrogacy industry to prevent exploitation and potential child trafficking. It also raises concerns about the mental health and well-being of the children involved, as well as the legal rights of the surrogate mothers who may be fighting for custody of the babies they carried.