Prosecutors Charge Talent Companies for Grand Theft, Scams etc. Against Actors

“The Los Angeles city attorney’s office has charged the operators of two local talent service companies with violating the state’s talent scam prevention law.

The charges mark the latest crackdown on talent management and services companies by the office, which has been on a campaign to ferret out abusive practices by firms that purport to help actors find jobs.

David Askaryar, 46, operator of Burbank-based Hollywood Stars Management Inc. and VIP Talent Web Inc., was charged with 16 criminal counts, including charging advance fees for actors, not posting a $50,000 bond with the state labor commissioner and failing to provide artists with written contracts with required disclosures. . . ” LA Times has the full story.