A surrogacy scheme is affecting people desperate to be parents across the United States and it’s all tied to Houston-based Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, LLC, or SEAM, which a Harris County lawsuit accuses of stealing more than $10 million.
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The FBI would not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation which is standard for the agency but a spokesperson encouraged anyone to report potential federal violations at“We would really like to hear answers,” said intended parent Riane Woods of White Fish, Montana. “It’s super emotional, yeah, because we don’t know how we can move forward to have our own child at this point.”
In her 30s, Woods froze her eggs, she said, and last November, put $62,000 in an escrow account with SEAM to pay for a surrogate’s expenses. According to the lawsuit, on June 14, SEAM clients received an email from Side which read: “Due to legal action all operations have been placed on hold. At this time, I am unable to provide further details regarding this matter.”Side has erased social media accounts, deleted some business websites, and taken measures to conceal business activities of her other entities, the lawsuit alleges. Employees appear to no longer be employed.
“The sudden collapse of SEAM and actions taken by Dominique indicates that SEAM and Dominique may have been misappropriating the escrow funds for years in order to bankroll Dominique’s other business ventures and lavish lifestyle,” the lawsuit claims. “It’s incredibly evil. It’s despicable. It’s disgusting,” Michael Rodriguez, a third alleged victim from Asbury Park, New Jersey, told KPRC 2′s Bryce Newberry. “It just already adds scrutiny and distrust to a very sensitive issue where we already have so many challenges to become parents in general.”
Harris County Surrogacy Scheme Theft
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