According to California officials, a consultant who was accused of using surrogacy to profitably abuse those who wanted to become parents has entered a guilty plea to wire fraud.
According to federal authorities, Lillian Arielle Markowitz, 40, of Portland, Oregon, operated three companies in San Diego where she sold herself as a surrogacy consultant to those who wanted to become surrogate parents.
However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California stated in a news release on January 23 that Markowitz came up with a plan to steal money from her surrogacy clients when she began to struggle financially.
On January 24, McClatchy News contacted her lawyer and was awaiting a response.
Prosecutors said that Markowitz acknowledged withdrawing funds from two couples’ escrow accounts without their consent or knowledge. Prosecutors said that the accounts contained funds for surrogacy expenses.
According to the prosecution, Markowitz allegedly acknowledged deceiving nine additional clients into believing that she would transfer their funds to a surrogacy escrow account. Prosecutors claim that she instead transferred the funds to a corporate bank account and utilized them for personal expenses, surrogacy-related costs for other customers, and general business expenses.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath stated in the news release that Markowitz self-centeredly took advantage of weak customers who were trying to realize their dream of parenting and that the surrogacy journey may be emotionally and financially taxing.
The sentencing of Markowitz is scheduled for April. According to the release, she might spend 20 years behind bars.
According to the prosecution, she has committed to reimburse her clients at least $389,000.
-Merced, California’s Sun-Star
