Federal prosecutors announced charges on Tuesday against Dominique Side, owner of Surro Connections, a surrogacy agency that abruptly closed in 2024, leaving dozens of families in financial and emotional distress. According to the criminal complaint, Side misappropriated over $1 million in payments from intended parents between 2021 and 2024, using the money for personal expenses rather than for surrogacy services.
The indictment alleges that Side transferred client funds to personal accounts, paid off gambling debts at casinos, purchased airline tickets and hotel stays, and bought designer handbags and jewelry. The Justice Department is also seeking forfeiture of assets traced to the fraud, including a luxury vehicle and real estate.
Surro Connections, based in Texas, marketed itself as a full-service surrogacy agency that matched intended parents with gestational carriers and managed medical and legal arrangements. Families who had paid tens of thousands of dollars for services learned of the agency's collapse when Surro Connections abruptly closed its office and ceased communication. Some had already matched with surrogates or had embryos in storage.
“These charges reflect our commitment to holding accountable those who exploit hopeful families for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Kennedy for the Southern District of Texas in a statement. The investigation is ongoing, and additional victims may still come forward.
Attorneys for Side have not yet publicly commented on the allegations. If convicted, Side faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering. A court date has not yet been scheduled.
The case highlights the lack of federal oversight in the surrogacy industry, which is regulated primarily at the state level. While some states have laws governing surrogacy agreements and agency conduct, many do not require agencies to maintain escrow accounts or provide financial disclosures. Advocacy groups have called for greater consumer protections, including bonding requirements and licensing for agencies.
Intended parents affected by the Surro Connections closure have formed a support group and are exploring potential civil lawsuits. Some have lost not only their life savings but also the opportunity to have biological children due to age or medical reasons. “We entrusted them with our dreams of parenthood,” said one victim who asked not to be identified. “Now we have nothing but debt and heartbreak.”