Shattered Dreams: Surrogate Families Betrayed by Escrow Scheme

In a shocking turn of events, a new lawsuit alleges that the owner of a surrogacy escrow company, Dominique Side, diverted millions of dollars from the accounts of hundreds of families to fund her lavish lifestyle and music career aspirations. This devastating revelation has left many aspiring parents facing the heartbreak of broken promises and dashed hopes of starting a family.

Uncovering the Betrayal: Families Robbed of Their Surrogacy Dreams

The Unraveling of a Surrogacy Escrow Scheme

Channel 2 Action News first reported in June that customers of Surrogacy Escrow Account Management (SEAM) were suddenly informed that they had lost access to their escrow accounts, leaving their surrogates unpaid. This alarming development prompted 23 families to file a lawsuit, alleging that SEAM's owner, Dominique Side, had misappropriated millions of dollars from the escrow funds.

Lavish Lifestyle and Music Ambitions Funded by Stolen Escrow Funds

The lawsuit claims that "bank records show that Dominique transferred more than .2 million of the intended parents' escrow funds to bankroll her music career as 'Dom,' a racy rap and R&B singer." Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Side used the clients' money to fund "lavish trips all over the world" and to purchase designer "clothing and luxury vehicles."

Shattered Dreams and Dashed Hopes

The Copelands, a Smyrna couple, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their child through surrogacy when they learned of the escrow account fiasco. "We were flabbergasted. Just the extent of the recklessness," Roy Copeland told Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray. The Copelands have had to dip into their retirement savings to continue paying their surrogate, a heartbreaking situation that has left them feeling betrayed and disillusioned.

Allegations of Greed and Lack of Conscience

Attorney Marianne Robak expressed her outrage at the alleged actions of Side and her partners, stating, "All I can think about is how some of these defendants can sleep at night knowing they have taken millions of dollars from innocent people and, in some cases, ruined their victims' chances at having a family of their own. It makes me sick."

The Closure of SEAM's Bank Accounts

The lawsuit further alleges that on June 17, 2024, Side informed Capital One, N.A. that she wanted to close all of SEAM's bank accounts, stating, "At this point, I would like to shut down everything. The whole process ignited a fire that I can't extinguish so I will not longer have a use for those funds."

The Devastating Impact on Surrogate Families

The Copelands, who were once preparing for a gender reveal party, are now decorating a pink nursery, but the joy of this milestone has been overshadowed by the financial and emotional turmoil they have endured. Jenna Copeland expressed her heartbreak, saying, "I think the part that hurts the most is knowing that she was once a surrogate and in this situation, and to completely take advantage of all these families is just so unfortunate."