OLD people are supposed to be retired and, if they are lucky, living on their pensions. But some of them still want to work, to make their money grow. They are blinded by get-rich-quick schemes that prey on this desire to make more money even in the twilight of their lives.
One such scheme was unraveled recently. A Cebuano business processing executive embroiled in a publishing scam targeting American writers has admitted to the charges filed against him. Michael Cris "Mike" Sordilla, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, US authorities announced.
Sordilla is the first of four defendants to admit his role in conspiring with others to operate a fraudulent publishing and film adaptation scheme, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California.
“Today’s guilty plea delivers justice for victims and serves as a warning that legitimate publishers and filmmakers do not demand upfront fees,” said US Attorney Adam Gordon. The group reportedly defrauded more than 800 victims across the US of over $48 million. Many of them were senior citizens who were promised lucrative publishing contracts and even Hollywood movie deals in exchange for hefty fees.
Under his plea agreement, Sordilla admitted managing Innocentrix Philippines, a Cebu-based call center, and overseeing the movement of fraudulent proceeds through multiple bank accounts. As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to forfeit the $2.7 million in proceeds and pay restitution amounting to at least $48.7 million to victims, the US government added. Sordilla is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2026.
Sordilla, who previously served as chairman of the local pageant franchise Hiyas ng Pilipinas, was arrested in the United States in 2024. Authorities estimated that at least $42 million was laundered as part of the fraudulent operation. Sordilla personally received about $2.7 million from the scheme, according to court records, US authorities said.
Gordon described the scam as a cruel exploitation of victims’ dreams and ambitions. “The defendants didn’t just steal money — they stole dreams, leaving victims with empty promises and devastating losses,” Gordon said.
Federal prosecutors said Sordilla founded and headed Innocentrix Philippines, a company that supposedly operated as a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm in the Philippines. Authorities, however, said the company became the center of a scam operation that ran from 2017 to 2024.
Court documents showed that Sordilla and his co-conspirators created fake publishing and entertainment companies in the United States, including PageTurner Press and Media LLC, Metro Films LLC, and WP Lighthouse LLC. The firms falsely presented themselves as legitimate publishing houses and film production companies supposedly connected with major publishers, movie studios and streaming platforms.
Investigators said dozens of call center agents working under Innocentrix Philippines contacted aspiring authors in the US, pretending to be literary agents or publishing executives. Victims were allegedly told their books had been selected for publication or adaptation into films.
To proceed with the supposed deals, victims were instructed to send payments for various expenses, including taxes, processing charges, transaction fees and marketing services. Moreover, the promises were entirely fabricated.
“PageTurner, WP Lighthouse, and Metro Films were fictitious businesses with no relationship to traditional publishers or Hollywood entertainment companies,” prosecutors said in a statement.
The other defendants identified in the case were Gemma Traya Austin, 60, and Michael Glenn Austin, 35, both of Chula Vista, California; and Bryan Navales Tarosa, 35, of the Philippines. Federal investigators previously seized the PageTurner domain and more than $6 million from bank accounts linked to the fake publishing firms.
The defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment under US federal law. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Seniors can protect themselves from financial scams by monitoring their accounts regularly. Review bank statements for unauthorized transactions and set up alerts for suspicious activity. They should also create strong passwords. Use unique passwords for each account and enable two-factor authentication for added security.
They must avoid public Wi-Fi for banking and use reputable financial apps. Secure sensitive financial documents by converting them to password-protected PDFs. They must also stay informed about common scams and tactics used by fraudsters like this one, where offers were made to turn their memoirs and memories into nonexistent movie projects.
