The House of Cards: Uncovering the Web of Nonpayment and Corporate Obfuscation at Pleroma Media

For independent contractors working in the digital media landscape, the promise of a paycheck is the fundamental tether that holds the professional relationship together. But for a growing cohort of writers, editors, and coders, that tether has been severed. Over the past year, an investigation into a cluster of New York-based media entities—including Pleroma Media, Pleroma MGMT, and IBT Media—has revealed a troubling pattern: systemic nonpayment, a labyrinthine corporate structure, and a confrontational approach toward those seeking accountability.

The Human Cost of "Right-Sizing"

The investigation began with a simple query into 347 West Thirty-Sixth Street, an unassuming office building in Manhattan. Inside, the directories and door signs reflect a shifting jumble of businesses: Pleroma Media, the International Business Times (IBT Media), and a law firm, Anderson & Associates.

Behind these names, nine independent contractors described a shared experience of months-long payment delays. These individuals, who performed vital roles ranging from editorial work to software engineering, found themselves navigating a bureaucratic maze. When they pressed for payment, they were often shuffled between Pleroma Media and Pleroma MGMT, two entities that executives insist are separate, despite their overlapping operations. By late 2025, these contractors were collectively owed approximately $40,000.

For many, the consequences were not merely professional; they were existential. Luis Addor, a software engineer hired to code for the company, was left without the funds to cover his basic living expenses. Unable to pay rent, Addor was forced to move into a shipping container, eventually taking a part-time job at a pizzeria to survive. "Every time they made promises, I was counting on that money, and then I never received it," Addor said. "Today, I am facing the consequences."

A Pattern of Legal and Corporate Entanglement

The investigation into these companies leads directly to Etienne Uzac, the former CEO of IBT Media. Uzac’s history provides a stark context for the current allegations. In 2020, Uzac pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering and fraud brought by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. IBT Media, which owned Newsweek at the time of the investigation, also pleaded guilty to a scheme to defraud, forfeiting $50,000.

The scope of that 2020 case was staggering, involving an estimated $35 million. Former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. described the operation as a "game of three-card monte," characterized by a complex, if "childishly managed," cycling of ill-gotten gains through a maze of corporate bank accounts. Despite the gravity of the charges, the resolution involved no jail time for Uzac, who instead received probation and 300 hours of community service.

The current legal landscape remains similarly dense. In 2023 and 2024, former contractors filed lawsuits in the New York State Supreme Court against Pleroma Media and Pleroma MGMT. One case, brought by former head of communications Fiona Tam-Zegarra, was settled. Another, involving Raphael Dib and Luis Addor, remains ongoing. In these proceedings, defense attorney Yen-Yi Anderson—the wife of William Anderson, who was also a defendant in the 2020 fraud case—has argued that because some contractors worked remotely from abroad, they cannot claim damages in New York.

The "Church and State" of Corporate Governance

The connections between these entities extend beyond business contracts; they are rooted in a shared religious affiliation. Yen-Yi Anderson acknowledged that her firm, Anderson & Associates, is housed in the same building as Pleroma and IBT because "we go to the same church"—specifically, the World Olivet Assembly. This religious connection appears to be a recurring theme; IBT Media was founded by Dr. David Jang, who also serves as the international president of Olivet University.

This "guilt-by-association" is something the law firm vehemently denies. In a statement, Anderson & Associates claimed, "The firm denounces any false equivalencies or guilt-by-association tactics pushed with the purpose of demonizing the firm or its clients."

However, the corporate structure itself is designed to obfuscate. Pleroma Media and IBT share deep historical and logistical ties. For instance, the privacy policy on the Pleroma Management website formerly instructed users to contact a Pleroma email address to opt out of marketing communications from the International Business Times. As corporate-governance expert Ann Lipton explains, such structures—where assets are siloed in different LLCs—are often used to manage risk, ensuring that when a contractor sues, they are targeting a "hollow" entity with no assets to pay a judgment.

Chronology of Confrontation

The investigative process was met with significant, and often bizarre, resistance. Upon visiting the West Thirty-Sixth Street office to inquire about the unpaid contractors, the author was met by Titus Choi, head of development for IBT Media. After an initial ten-minute delay, Choi escorted the author to the lobby while filming the encounter on his phone.

Following this visit, the tone from the companies turned litigious. Simon Lee, president of Pleroma MGMT, sent a letter alleging the author had trespassed, citing a "safety breach." Shortly after, a law firm representing IBT Media issued a cease-and-desist letter, threatening civil claims for "future trespasses."

The intimidation tactics intensified when the Latin Times—an outlet under the Pleroma umbrella—published an article attacking the author’s journalistic integrity. Daniel Acosta, an editor at the Latin Times, sent a barrage of questions implying that the author was an "operative" for Newsweek and part of a "predatory pattern of identity-based manipulation." When the author requested more time to respond, Acosta ignored the request and published the hit piece within hours. These claims were later dismissed by the Columbia Journalism Review’s leadership as "riddled with false statements."

Financial Instability and Disappearing Assets

The company’s financial health appears to be in a state of perpetual crisis. Executives have repeatedly cited "lost financial backers" and the need to "right-size the operation" when confronted by contractors about missed payments. Yet, the timing of these payments is often suspicious.

In June 2025, as reporting into the company intensified, several long-overdue contractors suddenly received partial or full payments. Ethan Dreilinger, a former president of Pleroma Media, was paid $15,000 on June 4—the same day Pleroma Media abruptly took down its primary website. Similarly, Raphael Dib and Luis Addor received payments on June 10 and 11, respectively.

When questioned, Michael Lee, a Pleroma executive, attempted to distance the entities: "I believe you may be referring to a different company, Pleroma MGMT, as nothing you describe applies to Pleroma Media." Yet, the trail of addresses—including a former Days Inn in Montgomery, Alabama, that serves as a headquarters for multiple entities—suggests a unified, if scattered, operation.

Implications for the Media Industry

The case of Pleroma Media and IBT is more than just a story of unpaid invoices; it is a case study in the vulnerability of the gig-economy journalist. By utilizing a web of LLCs and exploiting the legal distance between remote contractors and their hiring entities, these companies have effectively insulated themselves from the standard obligations of an employer.

As former Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. noted, "Even after a criminal conviction, that doesn’t always mean that’s the end of the criminal conduct. The truth of the matter is that even law enforcement agencies and government agencies, their memory is short."

For the victims—writers who have moved on to other careers or, in the case of Luis Addor, faced life-altering financial hardship—the experience serves as a warning. The media ecosystem, when left unregulated, can become a theater where corporate accountability is treated as a secondary concern. As the ongoing lawsuits move through the courts, the question remains whether the judicial system will finally pierce the veil of these interconnected entities, or if the "three-card monte" of corporate management will continue to shield those at the top while leaving the workers to pay the price.