FRISCO, Texas — The owner of an established company used by future parents and surrogates stole more than $10 million for personal use, court documents filed in Harris County allege.
Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, known as SEAM, was designed to give intended parents an account in which to store money for their surrogate's payments and medical bills.
Instead, lawyers allege, SEAM owner Dominique Side stole the money and used it to "bankroll her music career as 'Dom,' a racy rap and R&B singer and music producer."
Documents filed in Harris County allege Side traveled the world, paid for designer clothes, luxury vehicles, real estate, a music student and a membership in the exclusive club Soho House with money she was supposed to be holding for families.
"Hearing what they’ve lost, it’s way behind money," said Marianne Robak, a lawyer for more than a dozen people who said Side stole their money. "It’s their hopes, it’s their futures, it’s their families and it’s just very devastating."
Side has not appeared at multiple court dates – including an injunction hearing Wednesday at which a Houston judge extended a hold on her accounts, Robak said.
She did not respond to a request for comment – although the outgoing voicemail message at her Houston-based company said her attorney had advised her not to respond to inquiries while under federal investigation.
The FBI has opened a website to collect information from people who believe their money was stolen.
“It’s just devastating because as intended parents you’re so close to getting your family and then something like this just rips it away,” said Katie Lynch, who said she was lucky to only have six thousand dollars left in her SEAM account.
Other families have lost tens of thousands of dollars – attorney Robak said her team’s forensic accounts have found more than $10 million in funds.
Her friend, Vicky Ursi, served as her surrogate – and gave birth to a healthy baby boy about two months ago.
“I don’t think there’s money to be given back to many of the families,” she said. “I think it’s gone.”