CEBU, Philippines — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Cebu-based Hiyas Pilipinas founder and Innocentrix Philippines CEO Mike Sordilla, along with Gemma Traya Austin and Bryan Navales Tarosa, for allegedly defrauding elderly authors across the United States of nearly $44 million.
According to the DOJ, the defendants operated a scheme between September 2017 and December 2024, luring victims with false promises that publishers and filmmakers were interested in turning their books into blockbusters. Victims were reportedly told they needed to pay various fees upfront to proceed.
The indictment identifies Gemma Traya Austin, based in Chula Vista, California, as the organizer and registered agent of PageTurner, Press and Media LLC (“PageTurner”). PageTurner was purported to be a legitimate book publishing company. Sordilla and Tarosa, on the other hand, were described as executives of Innocentrix Philippines, a business process outsourcing company. Sordilla, a resident of Talisay City, Cebu, was listed as the CEO on Innocentrix’s official website.
The DOJ alleges that conspirators from Innocentrix Philippines reached out to authors through unsolicited calls and emails, falsely claiming that PageTurner collaborated with literary agents, major motion picture studios, and video streaming platforms. Victims were reportedly misled into believing their works had been selected for acquisition and were convinced to pay fees for services such as prepayment of taxes and transaction fees.
Prosecutors stated that more than 800 victims were identified by the FBI, collectively losing over $44 million to the alleged scheme.
Arrests and charges
Sordilla and Tarosa were arrested in San Diego on December 9, 2024, while Austin was taken into custody in Chula Vista on December 12, 2024. All three face charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering. The FBI has also seized the PageTurner website (pageturner.us) as part of the investigation.
The DOJ emphasized that charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
“As alleged, the defendants’ actions not only jeopardized the integrity of the publishing industry but also took advantage of innocent professionals, defrauding them of their hard-earned money,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy.
This case is being jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of the PageTurner scam are encouraged to contact the FBI at AuthorFraud@fbi.gov. — (FREEMAN)