Raymond Love, a Canadian author, has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on April 23, 2025, against Wiley Book Writers and several associated entities and individuals. The complaint accuses these defendants of orchestrating an elaborate scam targeting vulnerable authors under the guise of offering legitimate publishing services.
According to the court documents, Raymond Love is an author who penned a children's book titled "Rufus the Raccoon" in 2022 to celebrate his first grandchild's birth. In late 2022, he responded to an online advertisement from "Wiley Book Writers," which presented itself as a reputable publisher. However, Love soon found himself entangled in what he alleges is a fraudulent scheme involving multiple shell corporations and individuals masquerading as legitimate agents. The complaint details how Love was misled into believing that Wiley Book Writers was affiliated with John Wiley & Sons, Inc., a renowned publishing company. He entered into agreements with individuals using pseudonyms like "Anna Park" and "Sam Jones," who purportedly represented Wiley Book Writers.
Love claims that he paid significant sums for services such as publication and distribution through Harper Collins Publishing, which never materialized. Despite wiring over $40,000 USD to various entities including CodexLab, Inc., Techture, Inc., and Vox Studios LLC—believing these payments were for legitimate publishing services—Love received only 50 hardcover copies of his book. The defendants allegedly used fake names and forged documents to perpetuate their scam, promising royalties and other benefits that were never delivered.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating federal RICO statutes by engaging in wire fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and other illicit activities designed to defraud authors like Love. It also includes claims under Illinois state law for consumer fraud and deceptive business practices. Love seeks compensatory damages totaling nearly $50,000 USD for payments made under false pretenses, along with punitive damages and attorney's fees.
The legal action calls for injunctive relief prohibiting the defendants from continuing their deceptive practices or using misleading business names that could confuse consumers about their legitimacy. Additionally, it demands corrective advertising to dispel any confusion created by the defendants' actions.
Representing Raymond Love are attorneys Daniel J. Canon, Jonathan C. Little, and Annemarie Alonso from Saeed and Little LLP based in Indianapolis. The case is presided over by judges at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:25-cv-04420.