Dominique Side, the proprietor of Houston’s VGN Bae Studios and Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, faces accusations of defrauding numerous families out of substantial sums, totaling millions of dollars.
According to court filings, nearly hundreds of families worldwide entrusted upwards of $50,000 each to an escrow company operated by Side, with expectations that their investments would multiply, facilitating arrangements for future surrogates.
Recent revelations, however, have unveiled that the funds entrusted to Surrogacy Escrow Account Management (SEAM) have vanished without a trace.
A report from the L.A. Times detailed how families were informed this month about the disappearance of their invested funds, prompting the FBI to initiate an investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, Side has taken steps to privatize her social media profiles.
Side purportedly presented herself as a former surrogate and successful entrepreneur of multimillion-dollar enterprises.
Despite these claims, her background includes financial troubles such as bankruptcies and tax delinquencies. Leading up to the scandal, Side had maintained an active online presence, even appearing alongside celebrities.
In response to the unfolding scandal, a statement from one affected family expressed concern over the potential misuse of their escrowed funds, speculating:
“She’s probably spending our escrow money there.”
This case highlights significant legal and ethical implications surrounding escrow management in surrogacy agreements, likely sparking broader legal scrutiny and regulatory discussions within the industry.
