A California couple was charged on Tuesday with conspiring to commit child abuse in connection with an alleged surrogacy scandal involving 21 children.

Guojun Xuan, 66, and Silvia Zhang, 39, were arrested on Oct. 6 at their mansion in Arcadia, California. The couple faces charges of conspiracy to commit child abuse, accessory after the fact, and dissuading a witness, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. Xuan also faces one count of child abuse.

Prosecutors alleged that the couple ran a surrogacy company and hired surrogates across the country by lying to them about why they wanted children through surrogacy. One surrogate alleged that she was told Zhang was having difficulty conceiving, Hochman said.

The children allegedly spent several hours a day in makeshift classrooms inside the mansion under the supervision of nannies whom the couple had encouraged to discipline the children.

Prosecutors alleged that more than 30 surveillance cameras were installed in the home and at least 15 children were subjected to physical abuse. In one instance, at least one nanny allegedly struck a child with a shoe while Zhang and another nanny, identified as Chunmei Li, laughed while watching live footage on a television. Some of the children were as young as 2 months old at the time of the alleged abuse.

Prosecutors also charged Li with felony child abuse under conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death. She has not been arrested. Hochman said a $105,000 warrant for her arrest remains outstanding.

“The number of children who were subjected to this alleged horrific abuse is unprecedented,” Hochman said in a statement. “This was not a home where these children were loved and nurtured. This was a home where these young children were systematically beaten and punished if they did not do what they were told.”

Of the 21 children, 14 were born through surrogacy and lived at the couple’s home.

Hochman told an Oct. 6 press conference that investigators also found two additional children in the mansion and identified five others from the initial surrogacy operation whose whereabouts were not specified.

Fifteen children were removed from the couple’s home last year after an allegation of abuse. Six living elsewhere were also located. They ranged in age from 2 months to 13 years. Police said they believe Zhang gave birth to one or two of the children.

The investigation began in May 2025 after police responded to a report involving a 2-month-old boy who had suffered a traumatic head injury. The couple allegedly told medical staff that the baby had fallen from a bed, but they did not seek medical treatment for the child until two days later. Prosecutors said Li allegedly hit the baby on May 4.

During a court appearance on Oct. 6, the couple pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations. Prosecutors sought $100 million bail per person because of the serious nature of the charges and because they are flight risks.

Mitchell Krems, the couple’s attorney, said the bail amount was absurd for the charges his clients face and that Zhang’s health should be considered. Zhang, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, has a rare form of leukemia and is recovering from a bone marrow transplant, Krems said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.