TWO executives of a Cebu-based business process outsourcing (BPO) company and their United States associate were arrested for their alleged involvement in a scam that defrauded elderly authors in the US of nearly $44 million, or over P2.5 billion.
American authorities arrested Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Innocentrix Philippines, and Bryan Navales Tarosa, the vice president of operations, in San Diego, California, on Dec. 9, 2024.
Sordilla, 32, and Tarosa, 34, are also affiliated with the beauty pageant Hiyas ng Pilipinas. According to the organization’s website, Sordill is the CEO and chairman of the pageant, while Tarosa is its communications director.
On Dec. 12, their associate, Gemma Traya Austin, 58, listed as the organizer and agent of PageTurner, Press and Media LLC, was arrested in Chula Vista, California, on Dec. 12.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified over 800 victims of this scheme.
The three suspects are accused of conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud as well as laundering monetary instruments, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in a press release on Jan. 15, 2025.
Penalties
If convicted, the accused could face penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for fraud, and up to $500,000 or twice the amount of money laundered for the laundering charge.
The scam happened between September 2017 and December 2024, where Innocentrix Philippines, through PageTurner, contacted authors with unsolicited messages. They falsely claimed affiliations with literary agents, major studios, and streaming services, promising to adapt the authors’ books into movies or TV series if payments were made upfront.
Tara McGrath, US attorney for Southern District of California, described in a statement the impact on victims, saying, “What started with the promise of a Hollywood dream turned into a devastating nightmare for victims.”
“Authors should stay vigilant, do their research, and think twice before giving money to anyone promising a blockbuster deal. If you or anyone you know has been targeted in a similar scheme, please report it to the FBI immediately,” she said.
The case is under investigation by the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
All three accused are currently in custody, with no statement yet from Innocentrix Philippines or its representatives. / CDF