During a hearing on 16/10, prosecutor MacKenzie Teymouri stated that Guojun Xuan, 66, and his wife Silvia Zhang, 39, are accused of concealing 21 children from the outside world. The couple allegedly prevented the children from attending school, visiting playgrounds, or going to restaurants.

When the Child and Family Services Agency took the children into care last year, some were afraid to go to parks, having never been outside before.

The mansion, valued at over 4 million USD, in Arcadia, California. Photo: AP

According to the allegations, Xuan and Zhang have 21 children, 19 of whom were born via surrogacy. The couple raised their children in a nearly 1,000 square meter mansion in Arcadia, California, valued at over 4 million USD, where six nannies also resided.

Prosecutors stated that the children studied math, Chinese, and English almost constantly. They were required to sit up straight and pay attention; failure to do so resulted in beatings. Violence reportedly occurred in the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and the foyer.

Police collected surveillance video showing Xuan using a flashlight to check the beds of sleeping children, hitting those who were still awake. Prosecutor Teymouri noted that some videos had to be muted due to constant children's screaming.

The house had over 30 cameras monitoring the children and nannies. According to the criminal complaint, surveillance footage recorded nannies punishing children in various ways, including hitting their buttocks, kicking, repeatedly striking their arms with sticks, and hitting their heads, bodies, and arms with shoes. Some children were also forced to squat for extended periods as punishment.

A child being disciplined in a home classroom. Photo: Nypost

Nanny Chunmei Li, 58, is accused of hitting a two-month-old boy, causing a brain hemorrhage. Prosecutors stated that Xuan and Zhang did not seek treatment for the infant until two days later. Li was charged with child abuse and fled to China with the couple's assistance.

Prosecutors also revealed that during questioning, Xuan could not recall all his children's names, "having to use a spreadsheet" to remember them.

Xuan and Zhang were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit child abuse, aiding a felon in evading responsibility after committing a crime, and preventing a witness from providing information. Both pleaded not guilty.

At the hearing, prosecutors requested increasing bail to 100 million USD, citing records showing Xuan had at least 76 million USD in two money market accounts. He also possessed four passports, including one from Mexico.

Xuan's lawyer requested reducing bail to 5 million USD or releasing his client on his own recognizance. The lawyer argued that Xuan suffers from a rare form of leukemia, recently underwent a bone marrow transplant, and uses a wheelchair. The defense also denied the allegations, blaming the nannies and stating Xuan had no prior criminal convictions.

Zhang's lawyer objected to the high bail amount, arguing that the children lived in comfortable conditions, were well-fed, and received daily education.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the couple to remain in custody with bail set at 20 million USD each. The judge agreed with prosecutors that they posed a flight risk and showed signs of attempting to conceal or destroy evidence and transport witnesses abroad.

Silvia Zhang (left) and Guojun Xuan appeared in court for the first time in October. Photo: Pool

The case also involves a civil lawsuit filed by five women who acted as surrogates for the couple. Last month, they sued Xuan and Zhang, alleging fraud, negligence, use of gametes or embryos in assisted reproduction without consent, and sexual assault.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs accused Xuan, a wealthy individual, of being obsessed with impregnating women and having many children. They claimed the couple deceived and pressured the women into undergoing invasive reproductive procedures.

According to prosecutors, Xuan and Zhang established their own company, Mark Surrogacy Investments, to bypass background checks that typical surrogacy agencies would conduct. The couple is accused of lying to at least two women, claiming Zhang had difficulty conceiving.

Before police searched the mansion in May 2025, the couple allegedly instructed some children to deny being beaten and told them to hide the sticks used to hit them.

If convicted, Xuan faces a maximum sentence of 17 years and 4 months in prison. Zhang could receive 11 years and 8 months, while Li faces up to 12 years in prison.

Tue Anh (according to Court House News, Nypost)