Modeling Agency News: American Modeling Industry Headlines

"On Friday, April 16, Santa Monica Police detectives arrested a local man on charges of posing as a modeling agent and swindling young women. Thomas Daniel Martinez, 45, was arrested at his Santa Monica apartment on Friday afternoon and taken to Santa Monica jail. He later posted bail. Martinez faces 21 criminal counts stemming from his operation of a fraudulent modeling agency ring."¹

"The criminal complaint, filed by the Santa Monica City Attorney, charges that several different young women were lured to Martinez's apartment on promises of modeling jobs. Martinez then obtained cash payments of between $25.00 and $40.00 from the women, and took photographs of them in various stages of undress. Martinez kept the money, never produced the promised jobs for the women, and kept the photographs."²

"One of the women was a student at Santa Monica College, and was recruited on the Santa Monica campus by an employee of Martinez. Another woman was recruited at the campus of California State University at Los Angeles. A third woman had responded to a flyer of Martinez's that was posted at a Tower Records store. Martinez has used the aliases Tomas Cruz, Tommy Knighthorse, Tahme Knighthorse, and Tommy Marin. He has used the business names Multimedia Images & Talent, and Eagle Eye Entertainment. He has also claimed to work for Playboy and MTV in the course of persuading women to pose for photographs. Martinez is set to be arraigned on May 17 in Santa Monica Municipal Court."³

1. "Santa Monica Man Arrested in Modeling Agency Scam," Santa Monica City Attorney Press Release, Apr. 19, 1999.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

http://pen.ci.santa-monica.ca.us/atty/consumer_protection/PR_Consumer/knighthorse0499.htm

FTC Goes After D.C. Modeling Agency Scams

"Modeling scams are big business. While it is true that some successful models have been discovered in malls or on the street, the talent scouts are few and far between that can make a star out of a mall roamer. Many talent scouts are really just slick salespeople, trying to make a fast buck out of your aspirations and ego."¹

1. Carl Messineo, "FTC Goes After D.C. Modeling Agency Scams," Common Denominator, Oct. 4, 1999.

Modeling Agencies Settle With FTC

"Model 1 Inc. and Creative Talent Management, two Fairfax County modeling agencies that have come under federal and local government scrutiny for their aggressive recruiting tactics, have agreed to forgive $3 million in consumer debts under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement, entered Friday by Judge James C. Cacheris in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, bans Model 1 and CTM from advertising or offering screen tests, casting calls or auditions when these activities are offered with the sale of any product or service, such as acting or modeling classes. Both companies--and their presidents, Jason Hoffman of Model 1 and Ralph Edward Bell of CTM--also agreed to post a $500,000 bond before they ever sell modeling or acting classes again. In a separate settlement, stemming from a contempt complaint filed by the FTC in July, the two talent-search companies also agreed to refund money to consumers who signed up for screen tests after May 31. The FTC expects these refunds to total about $200,000.¹

"In response to the FTC complaint, all three firms agreed last May to sharply curb their sales pitches for their training classes--while denying that they had engaged in any illegal or wrongful conduct. Shortly afterward, the FTC accused Model 1 and CTM of contempt by "flagrantly violating" their promise and soliciting consumers for screen-test auditions."²

1. Caroline E. Mayer, "Modeling Agencies Settle With FTC," Washington Post, Sept. 1, 1999, p. E1.
2. Ibid.

Modeling Firm All but Closed

"Model 1 Inc., the controversial Fairfax County model-search firm, has virtually shut down its operations in the face of a continuing Federal Trade Commission probe of its high-pressured recruiting tactics. The year-old Tysons Corner company, whose scouts have lured thousands of prospects in the Washington-Baltimore area to the firm by telling them they had "the look" to be models, ended its recruiting operations on July 13 and laid off almost all of its staff--about 50 people."¹

"The near-closure came after several months of consumer complaints and government scrutiny. In May, a preliminary federal court order forced Model 1 and two companion firms to sharply curb the sales pitches they were making to people for training classes that cost up to $1,600. Then earlier this month, the FTC accused Model 1 of being in civil contempt by "flagrantly violating" that order. Jason Hoffman, Model 1's president, did not return repeated calls for comment about the firm's virtual shutdown. Earlier this year, in response to a Washington Post investigation of his firm, Hoffman said, "I am very proud of my company's record."²

"Scott Bryant, a Model 1 photographer, said that on the Fourth of July he used his keys to the firm's offices at 8150 Leesburg Pike to retrieve more than 500 photographs as well as photographic equipment. Bryant claims the firm owes him more than $63,000 for his work. He said the model trainees need the photos to get work, but "I'm just a vendor who wants to be paid for his services." Model 1, however, viewed the action as a theft and called Fairfax County police. Hoffman also sent a letter to its clients who were left without the photos they had already paid for. Hoffman wrote that police "have a primary suspect."³

"In the face of the FTC action and the case of the missing photos, Hoffman told Model 1 employees at a July 13 meeting that the firm "could not survive," according to one talent-scout manager who was there and was laid off after receiving only $600 to $700 for the seven weeks he worked there. "He blamed the FTC for being too stringent and non-pliable," the manager recalled Hoffman saying. "As a business, if you can't sell a good, you can't stay open."⁴

1. Kenneth Bredemeier, "Modeling Firm All but Closed," Washington Post, July 29, 1999, p. E1.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.

Virginia-Based Modeling Agencies Lure Thousands of Consumers with Exaggerated Promises of Lucrative Modeling/Acting Jobs

"If someone stops you on the street, hands you a card, and tells you "you've got the look," you may be on your way to becoming the victim of a modeling scam.... That was the case with three Washington, D.C.-area modeling agencies that, the FTC alleged, lured consumers into making substantial investments in their talent management services by promising high-paying assignments with well-known entities in the entertainment and fashion world."¹

1. "Virginia-Based Modeling Agencies Lure Thousands of Consumers with Exaggerated Promises of Lucrative Modeling/Acting Jobs," FTC, May 28, 1999.

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