Suspected gambling ring connection
The prime suspect in the Southern California surrogacy scandal that shocked the US in May is also allegedly one of the masterminds behind a “sophisticated criminal enterprise” involving illegal gambling and drugs.
all 21 were born to surrogate mothers
Real-estate investor Guojun Xuan, 65, is at the center of a child abuse case that drew national attention in May, after police found 21 children, 17 of whom were toddlers, inside his Arcadia mansion. According to reports, all 21 were born to surrogate mothers.
New details in the case emerged Thursday via a Complaint for Abatement filed by the City of El Monte. The complaint names Xuan as manager of a commercial hub called Pacific Place, which allegedly fronted illegal operations, including casinos.
Familiar to police
The complaint accuses Xuan, who “exercised control” over the El Monte business, of allowing a “sophisticated criminal enterprise” to persist at Pacific Place.
The new details were somewhat old news for local cops, who have reportedly raided the premises multiple times since 2021. In 2023, police seized slot-style gambling machines, 84 boxes of magic mushrooms, and marijuana from Pacific Place.
According to reports on Thursday, police are still wading through an extensive cache of video, and essentially remain clueless as to what they can charge Xuan with.
Prosecutors are holding off on filing charges until detectives finish reviewing film from approximately 25 surveillance cameras installed in Xuan’s Arcadia mansion that led to a monitor in the bedroom he shared with his partner, and co-child abuse suspect, Silvia Zhang.
Detectives have stated that some reviewed footage includes disturbing scenes of violence and bullying committed against the children by their nannies, which led to the arrest of the couple on May 9 on suspected child endangerment.
What next?
While investigators check if Xuan and Zhang violated US laws over surrogacy, the children are under the protection of Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services.
Xuan and Zhang are both free, but the investigation into them and what transpired in the Arcadia property continues. According to reports, police have not ruled out the possibility of a human trafficking angle to the case.
The City of El Monte, meanwhile, is seeking to have Pacific Place declared a public nuisance while claiming tens of 1000s of USDs against Xuan and his alleged associates.
