Missing Old Brookville couple had amassed millions of dollars, court papers show

A missing married couple who emigrated from China and were last seen at their Old Brookville mansion in 2025 had amassed millions of dollars in assets before they vanished from the nearly $4 million estate, according to court records.

In a petition filed with the Nassau County Surrogate's Court, one of the couple's two sons, who also is listed as part owner of the Maria Lane home, said his father, Peishun Fan, 48, at the time of his disappearance, had accumulated assets, including bank accounts, of $12 million, as well as others still unknown.

Fan and his wife, Juanjuan Zhang, 44, were reported missing on March 31, 2025. Since then and despite searches by the Nassau County Police Department, FBI and family members, both in the United States and China, there's been no trace of the couple. They immigrated to the United States in 2022 with their two sons, Yiwei Fan, now 21, and his brother, now 13. Both sons lived with their parents in the home, which was purchased for $3.8 million in cash in late 2023 by Yiwei Fan and his mother. Neither the sons nor anyone else has communicated with the couple in the past 18 months.

The court is being asked to appoint temporary administrators because the property is falling behind on payments like taxes and utility bills, and the younger son's needs must be addressed, records showed.

Various property expenses "have not been paid since [Peishun Fan] disappeared and the other monthly financial obligations ... including the maintenance and support of his minor son," court records stated.

Legal proceedings were started in May in the surrogate's court for the appointment of the fiduciaries.

Both sons are currently in China and are having trouble getting visas to return to the United States because their missing mother was listed as their sponsor, said attorney John Carman, who has represented Yiwei Fan and his younger brother in legal proceedings since their parents disappeared.

Carman and a retired NYPD officer named Baimadajie Angwang, who is also a private investigator, are being recommended by Yiwei Fan to serve with him as co-administrators. Nassau Surrogate David P. Sullivan has yet to sign an order appointing the administrators, court records showed.

Carman didn't return phone calls and text messages from Newsday on Thursday seeking comment. Angwang couldn't be reached for comment.

The case of the missing couple has puzzled their neighbors and also has been a topic of discussion in the local Chinese American community. One neighbor told Newsday that in recent days, cars have shown up at the house and some young people entered, stayed a short while and left. Lights are left on, but the landscaping is overgrown.

"It is very distressing," said the neighbor, who didn't want to be identified.

Det. Joe Oginski of the Nassau County Police Department told Newsday on Thursday that a missing person investigation into the couple's disappearance remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information should contact the department's Missing Persons squad at 516-573-7347.

Among the mysteries surrounding the case is how the couple made their money. Earlier, Carman said Peishun Fan had a construction business in China years ago but had some legal problems that led to a brief period of incarceration there.

When Zhang applied for immigration status to the United States, she applied for a special business visa, apparently to do real estate, but it was unclear if that venture ever got off the ground, Carman noted months ago.

Earlier this year, a Queens woman, Qiuju Wu, 58, pleaded guilty to federal charges that she stole $2.8 million from the missing couple. Prosecutors believe Wu's crime was identity theft and had nothing to do with the disappearances of Fan and Zhang. As part of her plea, Wu was ordered to pay the government $1.8 million in restitution and forfeit another $1 million.

In describing the family situation before his parents disappeared, Yiwei Fan said in the court papers that life was good.

"Peishun Fan is happily married to ... Juanjuan Zhang and enjoyed being a father," he said in court papers.

As far as being aware of any reason for the parents' sudden and mysterious disappearance, Yiwei Fan said he knew of none.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.