A 68-year-old mother who already had 13 children is confronting 30 criminal charges for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated surrogacy fraud to bring two more babies into the world, completely without her husband's consent.
The Elaborate Scheme Unveiled
MaryBeth Lewis, a nurse from New York, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include forgery and impersonation. However, in a startling interview, she admitted to deceiving her husband, Bob Lewis, and an IVF clinic to fulfil her desire for more children before turning 65.
The couple's extensive family began with five daughters, now in their 30s, followed by twin girls just before MaryBeth's 50th birthday. Another daughter arrived three years later, and twin boys were born in 2012. By age 55, the couple had ten children.
A Web of Deception
After their own embryos were depleted, the couple used donor sperm and eggs to create new embryos. MaryBeth subsequently gave birth to their 11th and 12th children at age 59, and their 13th via IVF at 62. Doctors warned her against further pregnancies.
Undeterred, MaryBeth allegedly initiated a complex fraud. She reportedly tricked an IVF clinic into implanting a surrogate with remaining donor embryos. To secure a parentage order, she is accused of creating a separate Zoom account in her husband's name and impersonating him during an online court hearing. She allegedly told the judge Bob was in Japan and could not turn on his camera, only speaking as him to confirm his identity with a simple grunt.
Fallout and Foster Care
Bob discovered the scheme when legal documents for the parentage order arrived at their home. Shocked by the betrayal, he reported his wife to the police. Although Bob later agreed to the parentage order after a lengthy court process, the couple's 14th and 15th children, twins born in November 2023, were placed in foster care.
The Lewises were named the legal parents of the twins on October 20, but they have not yet gained custody. The current foster family is reportedly fighting to keep the children. This is not the first time MaryBeth has been accused of acting without her husband's full approval; she previously underwent an embryo implantation for their 13th child in secret after Bob signed the initial paperwork but was not enthusiastic.
MaryBeth is scheduled to appear in court on 7 November.
