Modeling Agency News: American Modeling Industry Headlines

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"The agency must also pay back approximately $135,000 in refund[s] to its estimated 512 customers in North Carolina and other states." Call (919) 716-6000 for Refund. "The amount of the refund depends on the number of people who file a claim. All claims must be filed within 60 days." Comment: This is not a very good deal for models. Over 8,000 were scammed, mostly losing $1,000 each. That's about $8m in fraud. $135,000 divided by $1,000 is the equivalent of only 135 out of 8,000 scammed models getting a full refund, or each model getting only $16.88! Models in a NY class action case scored an $11m settlement. Govt attorneys are lame. Insider Info: "Chad Johnson is now worth over $2m, has a huge house, and has several cars, including a Hummer and another vehicle worth $75,000."

Internet Stalker and Fake Modeling Agent Gregg Mayes (Gregg Barry Mayes) aka Peter Cordano (Look Model Management) Caught and Arrested for Sex Crimes

"Mayes masqueraded as Peter Cordano, an agent with Look Model Management agency, and set up meetings with young women who wanted to be models. . . . They put their portfolios on these (Web sites) to get their big break, and he took advantage of that."

"According to DCA, Look's promotion of models on LookInternational.net is
enough to make it an employment agency, which must be licensed to protect
consumers from illegal practices. But Look isn't licensed."

Consumer Comment: "They are a [...] company that uploads talent and that is all they do. They post castings in NY as if they are an agency and when you show up they just hit you up for money. Very, very lower class. A complete [...]."

Arnold Signs Bill to Terminate Photo Mill and School Scams. "California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an anti-scam bill that may protect actors from talent representatives who charge up-front fees for services such as acting classes and photographs. Schwarzenegger last week signed the bill, SB1687, amending the California Advance Talent Service Act. The Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the AFL-CIO through the California Labor Federation all supported the bill, authored by state Sen. Kevin Murray." [cont...]

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer Sues Bogus Talent Agent Operating Advance-Fee Scam. "Several actors recognized Roselli's offer as a scam and reported it to Spitzer's office. . . . In filing the lawsuit, Spitzer's office seeks a court order compelling Roselli to pay full monetary restitution and damages to all aggrieved consumers, civil penalties for his violations of state laws and costs. The lawsuit also seeks a permanent injunction against Roselli barring him from future fraudulent, deceptive and illegal practices. Individuals wishing to file a complaint against Roselli are encouraged to call the Attorney General's consumer help line at (800) 771-7755." [cont...]

ARRESTED FOR RAPING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL (WHILE PARENTS WAITED IN OTHER ROOM)

Charles Green (Charles Maurice Green) Hip Hop Models Inc. (hiphopmodels.com) and Urban Talent Network (urbantalentnetwork.com) [Green was on a website list of suspected scammers for his affiliation with a controversial scam modeling company. You can know people by the company they keep.]

New York Shuts Down Another Photo Mill Scam

Judith DeLong and Sharon Backos busted. “The curtain has finally closed for Ms. DeLong and Ms. Backos--classic scam artists who have repeatedly deceived consumers,” said DCA Commissioner Gretchen Dykstra. “Promising modeling and acting jobs with false guarantees and profiting from very expensive photo collections is the oldest trick in the book, and unfortunately easy to fall for. We’re pleased to be one step closer in getting money back for consumers and making sure this fly-by-night business stays closed.” [Judith DeLong was already on a website list of suspected scammers for her involvement with a modeling scam NY busted in the 90s, Manhattan Petite Models (also known as Judith Models).]

Modeling Agency Quickly Packs Up, Leaves

Dreams smashed -- paychecks missing. Now, owners of a local modeling
business have shut everyone out.

Clients and employees went to Z Models and found the doors locked and the
office cleaned out. They say their pocketbooks are also empty.

Veronica Whitehead has been modeling for years. As a teen, she found jobs
in local commercials. She later landed work through Z Models while a
college student.

"I did a Safe Auto commercial, a hair show I was very proud of, a lot of
promotional stuff," Whitehead said.

"I was making phone calls, and no one was returning them. And I thought
something was funny with that."

Veronica was locked out of Z Models with her entire portfolio of pictures
inside. Without it, she has little chance of getting additional modeling
work.

"This is work, what I've been doing, and I need this to show," she explained
about her portfolio.

Local employees for the company tell 10TV they were just as surprised as
Whitehead was. They came to work and found the locks changed with no
warning. And like Veronica, payday still hasn't come.

Veronica says she can't afford to have new pictures taken. So she planned
to fight for her pictures, her paycheck and her lifelong dream. She said
she hopes others will follow.

"They've ripped us off, taken advantage of us, and it's sad. I urge people
to come forward."

The Ohio Attorney General also wants to hear from anyone affected. They
confirmed Tuesday that the owners of Z Models are in the process of closing
their Central Ohio location along with their Cleveland/Akron office.

Anyone wishing to lodge any complaints with the Ohio Attorney General's
office can call 1-800-282-0515.

Sex Offender Arrested and Accused Of Teen Modeling Scam (Edriss Farazi, Marvel Models) (Sept. 1, 2004)

(Police Detective Joe O'Brien said Farazi told potential models and model wannabes recruited off the streets that they had to put up at least $600 to have their pictures taken and have them posted online.)

(". . . after paying more than $600 each, the teens could not get answers about where or when they would start modeling. They say research on the Internet convinced them that Farazi and Marvel Models had tricked them.")

Charlie Crist follows the money, loses interest in ethics

"Mr. Crist has accepted at least two dozen private plane trips over the past 20 months, each time repaying just a fraction of the true cost. It's a way for someone interested in good government to get around contribution limits. Someone who takes the office of attorney general seriously would refuse any contribution that might be a conflict. The other Republicans in the Tuesday primary have refused money from industries such as tobacco that the attorney general's office is investigating."¹

1. "Crist follows the money, loses interest in ethics," Palm Beach Post, Sept. 5, 2002.

Economic-Crimes Unit Loses Chief

"It was not my idea," Jacqueline Dowd, reached at home, said of her resignation letter. "I don't know what's going on."¹

1. Barry Flynn, "Economic-Crimes Unit Loses Chief; Jacqueline Dowd played a key role in the Wilhelmina Scouting Network Investigation," Orlando Sentinel, Mar. 4, 2004, p. C.3.

Dowd leaves attorney general's office

"Assistant Attorney General Jacqueline Dowd has left the attorney general's office in Orlando, where she headed up the economic crimes unit. Dowd submitted her resignation to Attorney General Charlie Crist's office in Tallahassee Feb. 12. Dowd is on leave until March 4, at which time her resignation takes effect. Dowd did not give a reason for leaving in her resignation letter, says JoAnn Carrin, communications director for Crist. Dowd served in the position for more than 10 years."¹

1. Jill Krueger, "Dowd leaves attorney general's office," Orlando Business Journal, Feb. 19, 2004.

03/09 - Talent 6 is advertised as “Be A Star” and “Live Your Dream.” They offer jobs for extras, models, and actors in movies, music videos and reality TV. All looks and ages wanted – no experience needed! Complainants are dissatisfied with job opportunities posted on the business’s website and cite difficulty in obtaining refunds. At first, consumers are told they can cancel during the first two weeks. Then they are told they can only cancel after 90 days, and only if they haven’t been contacted by a director. One consumer was informed she had to pay $4,500 for the subscription. Over 125 complaints have been filed against this Hollywood, CA business, and they have the BBB’s lowest rating.