Arcadia, California — A Los Angeles County couple allegedly turned their mansion into a “horrific” surrogacy compound where children were repeatedly beaten and punished, prosecutors say, with investigators uncovering surveillance footage that allegedly captured nannies striking children, including infants.
Guojun Xuan, 66, and Silvia Zhang, 39, were charged Tuesday with one count each of conspiracy to commit child abuse. Xuan also faces one felony count of child abuse, one felony count of accessory after the fact and five felony counts of dissuading a witness.
According to prosecutors, 21 children lived at the Arcadia residence, and 15 allegedly suffered repeated physical abuse. Fourteen of those children were reportedly born through surrogacy.
Prosecutors Describe Alleged Abuse Inside Mansion
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Xuan and Zhang employed multiple nannies to supervise and discipline children living at the mansion.
One nanny, Chunmei Li, has already been charged with child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death and remains wanted on a $105,000 arrest warrant, prosecutors said.
The investigation reportedly began after police responded to a report involving a 2-month-old boy who had suffered a head injury.
Prosecutors allege that Xuan and Zhang created an environment in which children were “systematically beaten and punished if they did not do what they were told.” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman described the allegations as extraordinary.
“The number of children who were subjected to this alleged horrific abuse is unprecedented,”
Mansion Had Makeshift Classrooms and Cameras
According to the criminal complaint, the couple operated their own surrogacy company and allegedly made false statements to at least two women who became surrogates.
One woman was allegedly told that Zhang was “a single mother struggling to conceive.” The surrogate-born children were reportedly cared for by nannies who spent hours each day inside makeshift classrooms at the Arcadia residence.
Prosecutors allege:
“Xuan and Zhang caused three rooms within the Arcadia residence to be configured as ‘learning centers,’ where numerous young children spent several hours each day seated at desks under the supervision of nannies,” the complaint alleges. “Xuan and Zhang maintained a system of approximately 32 motion-activated cameras recording video and audio throughout the Arcadia residence, including cameras monitoring the children and nannies.”
The surveillance system allegedly provided investigators with evidence of repeated incidents inside the home.
Video Allegedly Captured Children Being Hit
Over an 11-day period from April 27 through May 7, 2025, prosecutors say surveillance footage captured nannies spanking, slapping and hitting children.
In one alleged incident, a nanny reportedly struck a child with a shoe while Zhang and another nanny “laughed while watching the footage,” according to the complaint.
Another incident allegedly involved Xuan entering one of the learning centers on April 30. Prosecutors say Xuan told a nanny who was disciplining a child to “strike the child harder.”
The complaint alleges that Xuan then repeatedly spanked the child, struck the child’s head with an open hand and lifted the child by one arm while continuing to hit the youngster.
Some Areas of Home Were Not Covered by Cameras
The surveillance system did not cover every part of the mansion, according to prosecutors. One room reportedly had no camera, and investigators allege that some nannies were seen “carrying children into this room.”
Prosecutors further allege that children could be heard screaming from inside.
The lack of surveillance in that room has become another significant part of the allegations as investigators attempt to determine the full extent of what happened inside the residence.
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Infant’s Injury Triggered Police Response
The 2-month-old boy at the center of the initial police response was allegedly struck by a nanny on May 4, 2025, according to the complaint. Prosecutors allege that Xuan and Zhang waited two days before seeking medical treatment for the infant.
When they eventually took the child for medical care, the couple allegedly told medical personnel that the baby “had fallen from a bed.”
Investigators also accuse the pair of attempting to prevent children from speaking openly with police and of hiding sticks allegedly used to hit them.
The complaint states:
“Zhang instructed the children … to deny that they had been beaten,”
Children Were Removed From the Home
The state ultimately removed the 21 children who had been living with Xuan and Zhang, according to authorities. Prosecutors also allege that the couple recruited surrogates through Facebook as part of their operation.
Xuan and Zhang were investigated and arrested last year but were later released without charges. They were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at the Pasadena Courthouse.
If convicted, Xuan faces up to 17 years and four months in state prison, while Zhang faces up to 11 years and eight months. Li, the nanny already charged in the case, faces up to 12 years if convicted.
The allegations remain accusations, and the defendants are entitled to due process as the criminal case moves forward.
What do you think about the disturbing allegations prosecutors have revealed in this case? Share your thoughts in the comments.
