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Published on January 16, 2025
Three Indicted in $44 Million Nationwide Publishing Scam Targeting Elderly AuthorsSource: Google Street View

Three individuals have been indicted in a scam that involved bilking nearly $44 million from elderly authors across the country, the U.S. Attorney's Office revealed. The defendants allegedly ran a publishing fraud through a company named PageTurner, Press and Media LLC, promising authors their books would be turned into movies or TV series if they paid up-front fees. The scheme, which preyed on the aspirations of many to see their literary works gain widespread acclaim, was instead a means to siphon their funds.

The indictment names Gemma Traya Austin, Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, and Bryan Navales Tarosa as the orchestrators of the elaborate fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, from September 2017 to December 2024, they claimed to help authors get their books published or optioned for screen adaptations. The victims, however, were conned into sending payments for services, such as taxes and transaction fees, that never materialized into the promised deals.

The FBI has identified over 800 victims in the PageTurner scam, solidifying the scope of the malicious operation. "What started with the promise of a Hollywood dream turned into a devastating nightmare for victims," U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath stated, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Upon the defendants' arrest, several agencies highlighted the impact of the scam. "As alleged, the defendants’ actions not only jeopardized the integrity of the publishing industry, but also took advantage of innocent professionals and defrauded them of their hard-earned money," FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy expressed, as cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Special focus was given to the exploitation of elderly citizens, with Matt Shields of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service condemning the targeting and victimization of this vulnerable group.