A Cebuano business process outsourcing executive has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court for his role in a large-scale publishing fraud scheme that prosecutors say defrauded more than 800 victims of over $48 million.
Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, 34, admitted on May 16 to conspiring in a years-long scheme that targeted aspiring authors in the United States by falsely offering publishing contracts and film adaptation deals in exchange for upfront payments.
US prosecutors identified Sordilla as the founder and chief executive officer of Innocentrix Philippines, which allegedly served as the operational base of a call center-driven network that deceived victims through sales agents posing as literary representatives.
Court documents showed he is the first among four defendants in the case to enter a guilty plea.
Authorities said the scheme involved fictitious companies, including PageTurner Press and Media LLC, The Metro Films LLC, and WP Lighthouse LLC, which were presented as legitimate publishing and film production firms with supposed links to major industry players.
From 2017 to 2024, sales representatives allegedly contacted victims in the US and told them their manuscripts had been selected for publishing or film adaptation, before requiring payments for taxes, processing, marketing, and other fees that prosecutors said were fabricated.
“As part of the conspiracy, the conspirators impersonated literary agents and executives from major publishers, motion picture studios, and popular video streaming services,” the US Attorney’s Office said.
Court filings indicated Sordilla admitted to helping manage bank accounts under the fake company names and facilitating the transfer of funds through multiple accounts to conceal their origin.
Prosecutors said at least $42 million was laundered through the scheme, while he personally received about $2.7 million.
Under his plea agreement, Sordilla agreed to forfeit $2,725,951 and faces restitution claims of at least $48.7 million. Sentencing is set for July 24, 2026.
He faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, which carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
US authorities earlier said the case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Prosecutors said victims were often older aspiring authors who were misled with promises of publishing deals that never existed.
The guilty plea follows earlier denials from Sordilla’s legal camp, which had previously rejected the allegations and claimed some sales agents acted outside company rules.
Sordilla and fellow executive Bryan Navales Tarosa were arrested by US authorities in December 2024, while two other co-defendants remain pending trial.
US authorities have also seized more than $6 million linked to the operation.
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