Modeling Agency News: American Modeling Industry Headlines

"Ukrainian police shut a modeling agency which photographed underage girls and sold images over the Internet in North America as part of their biggest crackdown on child pornography, officials said on Wednesday. Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted Vitaly Yarema, deputy head of the Interior Ministry crime investigation department, as saying police were questioning about 15 people about the agency, which operated for three years across the country. Police said the agency had attracted around 1,500 girls aged from eight to 16 to their offices in the capital Kiev, Kharkiv in the east and Simferopol in the south. "The pictures (of the girls) were then sent to the United States and Canada via Internet channels," Yarema said. Police also froze the bank accounts of the agency, which earned "hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars" in the past three years. UNIAN news agency said police confiscated video equipment, computers, images of children, financial documents and a Porsche belonging to the group organizer, a Ukrainian in his mid-20s. Ukrainian police worked on the case for several months with the FBI."¹

1. "Police Shut Ukraine Model Agency in Porn Crackdown," Reuters, July 28, 2004.

Rogue agency back

"Budding film actors and extras are being asked for $250 up front to be listed for movie or television parts by a rogue agency banned from trading in Victoria. The firm, known as Global Capital Casting, advertised last month for people to apply for casting tests, but did not mention a fee. But return correspondence asked for $249 to be paid by the "limited number of people approved" by the agency. The agency's literature implied a link to Melbourne's new Docklands Studios. According to Consumer Affairs Victoria, the key figure behind GCC is Simon Spain, aka Kevin John Sims, who was prohibited from trading in Victoria last month. He has convictions in two other states and has been banned from trading as a modelling agent by the New South Wales Supreme Court. But GCC's answering machine was still offering people a photo session, videotaping and voice assessments yesterday, if the fee was paid. GCC said the work was "highly lucrative and great for self-esteem." Attempts to contact GCC this week failed. Last night CAV confirmed that Mr Spain and Global Capital Casting were still trading in Victoria. A CAV spokeswoman said Mr Spain, Mr Sims and GCC was "the same thing." "We believe they are trading again in Victoria. There is further legal action available to us if he does not stop," she said."¹

CAV Prosecutes Shonky Model and Employment Agent Simon Spain

"Simon Spain, aka Kevin John Sims, is prohibited from operating modelling and employment agency businesses after action was taken by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. In addition to the injunction to cease trading, the Court ordered Mr Spain to refund $7491 to the 23 people who had not received the services paid for. "Simon Spain operated unregistered businesses that trampled the dreams of people hoping to break into the modelling world or of finding regular employment," said Consumer Affairs Victoria Director Dr David Cousins. "Through CAV's actions Simon Spain is now prevented from engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct and running businesses as a modelling agent, casting agent or employment agent."¹

1. "CAV Prosecutes Shonky Model and Employment Agent Simon Spain," Consumer Affairs Victoria, June 18, 2004.

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/cbav/fairsite.nsf/pages/of_media_releases_180604?Open

Models man labelled a rogue

"The return to Victoria of a conman who promises acting and modelling work that never eventuates prompted an unprecedented warning from Consumer Affairs Victoria yesterday. Consumer Affairs director David Cousins named Kevin John Sims as a rogue trader, the first time he has used new powers to name a person who is not the subject of court action. "I am determined to limit the number of people who fall for his false promises," Mr Cousins said. Despite convictions in two other states and a 50-year ban on trading as a modelling or work agent imposed by the NSW Supreme Court, Mr Sims is believed to have returned to Victoria. Mr Sims allegedly places advertisements in newspaper employment sections for jobs in modelling or the entertainment industry and demands a registration fee."¹

"A Deer Park mother, who asked not to be named, said she had been duped out of $395 after contacting Little Stars Models and being promised television commercial work for her three-year-old son. After attending a photo shoot in Swanston Street and paying money into an account for the modelling portfolio, the woman said Mr Sims assured her the portfolio and work would be forthcoming, but his phone was later disconnected."

1. Lorna Edwards, "Models man labelled a rogue," The Age, Feb. 12, 2004.
2. Ibid.

(Kevin John Sims, Simon Spain, Central Casting, Global Capital Casting, Little Stars Models, MM Promotions)

Bogus agent fined

"A bogus Gold Coast model and actors' agent who promised people work that never materialised has been fined and ordered to return fees he charged, Queensland Fair Trading Minister Merri Rose said yesterday. Kevin John Sims, 61, who now lives in Melbourne, was fined $10,000 by Southport Magistrates Court and ordered to pay back $8193 to clients. Ms Rose said Sims, who operated Boomerang New Century Models at Surfers Paradise, was convicted of breaches of the Fair Trading Act."

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