Latest news with #MarkMeasures
New York Post
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Disgraced Hollywood agent who stole millions from struggling actors has his day in court
A Hollywood agent stole $1.8 million from struggling actors on shows such as 'Law & Order' — claiming some of their checks were late because of 'earthquakes' while enjoying spa treatments at the Four Seasons, Manhattan officials said on April 22. Mark Measures, the disgraced former owner of KMR Talent, bilked 160 actors out of the hunk of dough in addition to stealing from six employees who worked at his agency, according to a 40-count indictment unsealed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
New York Post
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Hollywood agent allegedly stole $2M from actors — then gave this bizarre excuse to hide crime
A Hollywood agent stole $1.8 million from struggling actors on shows such as 'Law & Order' — claiming some of their checks were late because of 'earthquakes' while enjoying spa treatments at the Four Seasons, Manhattan officials said Tuesday. Mark Measures, the disgraced former owner of KMR Talent, bilked 160 actors out of the hunk of dough in addition to stealing from six employees who worked at his agency, according to a 40-count indictment unsealed in Manhattan Supreme Court. The washed-up agent, 60, was fueled by his illicit greed to fund his personal lifestyle — which included the fancy self-care hotel sessions as well as splurging $55,000 on seats at the Arena, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, said Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Rachana Pathak. Advertisement 4 Washed-up Hollywood talent agent Mark Measures stole nearly $2 million from struggling actors he represented, Manhattan prosecutors announced Tuesday. Steven Hirsch 'This was during the time that actors and agents were begging for money,' Pathak told the judge. 'Raiding escrow accounts is black-letter embezzlement.' Measures also allegedly used the money for purchases at high-end clothing stores such as Zegna, Saks Fifth Avenue and Revolve, to pay off creditors, settle AMEX bills and make car payments. Advertisement The scheme, which ran between June 2021 and March 2024, stole residuals and holding fees from wannabe-bigtime actors who were represented in KMR, including those working in film, commercials and voiceover work nationwide. Measures, who lives in Los Angeles, would find any excuse in the book to not pay his clients, blaming everything from banks, 'earthquakes, power blackouts, sick employees, and mail delays' — until he ultimately ghosted them, prosecutors said. One of his victims, Joe Gately — a Harlem actor who has appeared in episodes of 'Law & Order' and 'Blue Bloods' — told The Post after Tuesday's arraignment that Measures owed him $6,500 over a drug-advertisement campaign in 2021. 'He's a thief,' Gately, 59, seethed outside the courtroom. 'We've all wondered where the money went, so today offered a little information. It's not surprising at all he couldn't pay.' Advertisement 4 Joe Gately, one of Measures' alleged victims, appeared in an episode of TV's 'Prodigal Son.' MAX Messages including emails released by the DA's office showed Measures' clients demanding their money from the washed-up agent, including one where an alleged victim is seeking thousands of dollars owed to her for desperately needed medical treatment. 'Those funds (that seem to have been stolen by you at this point) were to be used for my IVF treatment,' the emailed message reads. 'I am in the doctors office in tears as you've put me in a really challenging financial position by stealing my almost $20,000 from me.' Measures is also accused of embezzling $26,000 from wages intended for the retirement accounts of six workers at his New York City-based office. Advertisement 4 Measures was allegedly fueled by greed to fund his personal lifestyle — including by spending at least $55,000 on seats at the Arena, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers. Steven Hirsch He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and refused to answer whether he stole money from his clients. Judge Althea Drysdale ordered Measures to turn over his passport before releasing him, as the charges were not bail-eligible. 'As much as you hail from California, you must be here on any day that I tell you to be here,' the judge warned. 4 Emails released by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office show Measures' clients confronting the talent agent about their missing money. DANY Press Office KMR operated as a franchise of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union until it was suspended in March 2024. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg urged victims to contact his office as the investigation remains ongoing. Advertisement 'Rather than pay the actors and employees, the defendants used their hard-earned money to fund his lavish lifestyle,' Bragg said in a statement. Measures is due back in court July 15.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Talent Agent Mark Measures Charged With Stealing $1.8 Million From 160 Actors
Mark Measures, a longtime talent agent, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of bilking 160 actors out of $1.8 million. Measures, 60, of Los Angeles, is also accused of stealing $26,000 from six employees of his agency, Kazarian/Measures/Ruskin & Associates. More from Variety Costa-Gavras' Brand of Political Drama Finds Safe Harbor in Mill Valley Regional Legit Review: 'Secondhand Lions' Japan Picks 'Passage' as Oscar Pic Measures was indicted in Manhattan on 40 counts, including grand larceny, petit larceny and scheming to defraud. The Manhattan D.A.'s office alleged that Measures diverted clients' funds to pay his personal and business expenses, and that during the scheme he bought items at Arena and clothing from luxury brands. Measures and his attorney did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. According to the D.A.'s office, Measures stole residuals and holding fees from commercial actors, voiceover actors, and actors on shows like 'Law & Order.' He offered an range of excuses for non-payment, including bank issues, earthquakes, and power outages, according to the D.A. He would personally reassure clients that they would get their money, though he ultimately ceased all communications with them, the D.A.'s office stated. The D.A.'s office quoted messages from clients to Measures demanding their money. One message sought payment of $19,000. 'Those funds (that seem to have been stolen by you at this point) were to be used for my IVF treatment,' the actor wrote. 'I am (in) the doctor's office in tears as you've put me in a really challenging financial position by stealing my almost $20,000 from me.' Measures also diverted employee money that was supposed to go to 401(k) retirement accounts, the D.A.'s office alleges. Measures has previously been accused in civil suits of failing to pay numerous debts. In one such case, Brian Cade, an actor in New Jersey, alleged that Measures had withheld at least $128,000 in compensation, blaming 'bank restrictions' for a series of late and irregular payments. According to the lawsuit, SAG-AFTRA issued a warning to members last year that KMR was not paying clients what they were owed. Numerous other actors have voiced complaints about non-payments on social media platforms. In December, American Express sued Measures, alleging that he owed $97,000 in unpaid balances. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Talent Agency Chief Arraigned After Allegedly Stealing $1.8M From 160 Actors
Mark Measures, owner and president of talent agency KMR, was arraigned in the Manhattan Civil Courthouse Tuesday after allegedly stealing money from the clients he represented. Measures is alleged to have stolen $1.8 million from 160 actors based in New York and about $26,000 from six employees between June 2021 and March 2024. He was arraigned under two grand jury indictments which charged Measures with scheme to defraud in the first degree, and charged his talent agency, Kazarian/Measures/Ruskin & Associates, on the same charge. More from The Hollywood Reporter Paul Feig Signs First-Look TV Deal With Warner Bros. Sebastian Stan Says $65,000 in 'Hot Tub Time Machine' Residuals "Saved" Him Ahead of MCU Role 'Poppa's House' and 'The Summit' Canceled by CBS After Just One Season Measures pleaded not guilty to both charges. Measures represented clients including Elizabeth Perkins and Merrin Dungey on their voice work, and was a talent agent for clients including the late Wink Martindale and Meredith Monroe. In court, prosecutors claimed that Measures 'raided' the escrow account in which the agency kept their client's earnings. Measures allegedly used the money in the account to pay for personal and operating expenses, as well as paying off creditors, Four Seasons spa treatments, clothing, car payments and at least $55,000 for Los Angeles Crypto Arena seats. While there are 160 alleged victims in New York, prosecutors stressed that there are more 300 alleged victims nationwide. Because the theft was alleged to have taken place starting in 2021, prosecutors said some clients had not been paid for years. Measures was led into the courtroom Tuesday in cuffs and was released on his own recognizance after the hearing. The judge demanded Measures turnover his passport and hire his own attorney, as he was represented at the arraignment hearing by a free attorney. As of March 22, 2024, KMR had inactivated its franchises in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta with SAG-AFTRA, according to the union. At that time, the union said 'No member of SAG-AFTRA may hereafter engage, use or deal through this agency,' and that any contracts between the agency and members of SAG-AFTRA were to be terminated. He is due back in court July 15. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KMR Talent CEO Mark Measures Hit With Fraud & Larceny Charges Over Millions Allegedly Stolen From Clients & Staff
Some allegedly ripped off and pissed off clients of KMR Talent got a taste of justice today as CEO Mark Measures faced a New York judge on charges of stealing almost $2 million. A year after the vaulted agency essentially crashed and burned as dozens and dozens of clients were burned with unpaid residuals and tax burdens, the indicted Measures turned himself in this morning to the Manhattan D.A. In a just completed arraignment, the company and the executive faced 40-counts of fleecing about 160 clients over a period from June 2021 to March 2024. More from Deadline Healthcare CEO Shooter Suspect Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty To State Murder & Terror Charges In NY - Update New York D.A. Urges Judge Not To Dismiss Donald Trump's Hush Money Conviction, Proposes Other Sentencing Options Donald Trump's Hush Money Sentencing "Adjourned" Indefinitely In Win For Ex-POTUS - Update For such white-collar crimes, Measures could be looking at more than 15 years behind bars if found guilty. According to DA Alvin Braggs' office, Measures and KMR stole $1.8 million from clients and $26,000 from the 401 (k) accounts of employees in the company's NYC office. To that, the defendants are specifically charged one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, three counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, 28 counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, five counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and three counts of Petit Larceny. The actual indictment states: 'The defendants, in the County of New York and elsewhere, from on or about June 23, 2021 to present, engaged in a scheme constituting a systematic ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud more than one person and to obtain property from more than one person by false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, and so obtained property with a value in excess of one thousand dollars from one or more such persons, to wit: individuals known to the Grand Jury.' Along with the 160 New York-based clients named in today's indictment, there may be hundreds more across the country who have also be affected, I hear from law enforcement sources. 'As alleged, Mark Measures and KMR stole approximately $1.8 million from 160 hard working actors, many of whom were balancing other jobs to stay afloat while pursuing their acting careers,' DA Bragg said in a statement after the court hearing was over. 'These defendants also stole thousands of dollars from his employees by taking wages that were meant to be invested in their retirement accounts. Rather than pay the actors and employees, the defendants used their hard-earned money to fund his lavish lifestyle. This alleged conduct is egregious, and we will continue to fight for Manhattanites to receive every dollar they earn. This is an ongoing investigation – if you are a victim, please contact our office at (646) 712-0298.' Starting out as the Wormser Agency, KMR was formed in 1957 as the first voice-over and commercial agency in LA. Over the decades, the agency took on TV actors too. All was relatively copacetic until the pandemic hit. As clients wondered where their money from residuals and other sources was, KMR and Measures offered a series of excuses, blaming banks, payments systems and more over the last few years, SAG-AFTRA got involved for a spell but eventually this all ended up with law enforcement — who, as today makes clear, aren't messing around. With no bail required under the statutes of the Empire State, Measures was able to walk out of court Tuesday after entering a plea of not guilty. He will be back on July 15, according to the court calendar. Still, for at least one victim of KMR, seeing Measures in court Tuesday was fulfilling. 'I am very happy that he was indicted and has turned himself in,' says Joe Gately. 'And I am extremely grateful to Assistant DA Rachana Pathak and everyone in the DA's office for taking our case seriously and for all the work they've done to bring him to justice. He bounced a check to me, three times, for the renewal of a print campaign associated with a national commercial and I'm out $6500.00.' On Tuesday, the NY-based Gately was in the courtroom to see Measures in handcuffs. 'It was very satisfying to bear witness to that.' Lynette Rice contributed to this report. Best of Deadline 'The Last Of Us': Differences Between HBO Series & Video Game Across Seasons 1 And 2 'Ransom Canyon' Book Vs. Show Differences: From Quinn & Staten's Love Story To Yancy Grey's Plot Everything We Know About Netflix's 'Ransom Canyon' So Far
