A woman who caused emotional and financial pain and suffering for more than 40 victims with her egg donation and surrogacy business plead guilty Thursday to defrauding customers and clients.
Allison Layton, who also went by the name Allison Jarvie, bilked her victims, consisting of would-be parents, egg donors and surrogates, out of more than $270,000 between August 2008 and January 2012 with her former business, Miracles Egg Donation.
Layton also plead guilty to federal wire fraud. She faces up to a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
The intended parents paid tens of thousands of dollars for egg donations and surrogacy services promised by Layton, 38. The funds were to be placed in an escrow account, but were instead used by Layton to fund her lavish lifestyle, according to a written statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Layton, who is a resident of Star, Idaho, would even take those funds and pay off expenses and unpaid costs from other clients.
The misappropriation prevented intended parents, surrogates, egg donors and attorneys from being paid or rendered services. At least one investor lost a large sum of money invested in Miracles Egg Donation, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.
Layton would often give false assurances to her victims that they would be repaid, or would be paid in the near future, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation into Layton’s business practices.
Layton is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court May 28.
