Two executives of a Cebu-based business process outsourcing (BPO) company were arrested in the United States last December for allegedly defrauding elderly authors of nearly $44 million, equivalent to around PHP 2.5 billion.
Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, founder, president, and CEO of Innocentrix Philippines, and Bryan Navales Tarosa, the company’s vice president of operations, were taken into custody in San Diego, California, on December 9, 2024.
A third suspect, Gemma Traya Austin, identified as the organizer and registered agent of PageTurner, Press and Media LLC based in Chula Vista, California, was apprehended three days later on December 12, 2024, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California.
According to a GMA News report, the trio faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, which could result in up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of $500,000 or twice the laundered amount.
