A LAWYER and spokesperson of a Cebu-based business process outsourcing company whose founder is currently detained in the United States along with two others over an alleged $44-million fraud case has appealed to the Department of Foreign Affairs to look into the case by first visiting the jailed accused.
Arrested on December 9, 2024 in San Diego, California, Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, 32, Innocentrix Philippines chief executive officer; and business partner Bryan Navales Tarosa, 34, remain detained following the alleged multi-million scam that said to have victimized 800 elder writers/authors in US, said Atty. Oliver Baclay Jr.
Baclay, said Sordilla and Tarosa who were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation without any warrant of arrest were never involved in the alleged scam. And instead, the lawyer pointed to the firm’s three agents, whose identities he requested to remain anonymous, to be behind the alleged wire fraud allegations.
The third accused, Sordilla’s aunt, Gemma Traya Austin, was also arrested three days later after the duo’s detention because her publishing house was allegedly used by Sordilla and Tarosa in the alleged wire fraud.
Sordilla’s family believed that the Philippine government must take time to visit the two detained Filipinos at Sta. Monica, California jail facility and look into their case.
Also, Baclay said they’ve also sought clarification from the US court through the accused’s American lawyer about the involved amount ($44-million) which he said was questionable as it could only be $2-million since there are only nine complainants.
”This ($2-M) could be the amount that the three former Innocentrix agents had defrauded them and in fact one of the nine complainants had already totally been refunded,” Baclay said.
He admitted that this is a big case worldwide about a publishing scam, “unfortunately the innocent victims were pinned down, that is why we appeal to the DFA for help.”
