A talent agency in Manhattan has been hit with a 40-count indictment, accused of swindling approximately $1.8 million from actors and failing to deposit close to $26,000 into employee 401(k) accounts. According to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, KAZARIAN/MEASURES/RUSKIN & Associates (KMR) and its president, MARK MEASURES, 60, are facing numerous larceny counts.
The embezzlement saga spanned from June 23, 2021, to March 22, 2024, during which KMR, a Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) franchise, was expected to promptly issue payments to actors but failed to do so. Actors, who reportedly voiced advertisements, played roles in television shows like “Law & Order,” and managed other jobs to support their acting careers, were left waiting, some not having received payments for work completed years ago. "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," District Attorney Bragg said in a statement obtained by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Measures and the agency are alleged to have provided various explanations for the delays, including bank errors, natural disasters, staff illnesses, and mailing problems.
The indictment further alleges that the agency committed wage theft against its own employees by not making the required 401(k) contributions, pocketing amounts ranging from $1,700 to $9,000 from six employees. While these funds were deducted from paychecks, they were never invested as intended. Meanwhile, MEASURES is accused of using the stolen funds for personal expenses, including purchases at luxury establishments and designer retailers.
In response to ongoing wage theft and worker exploitation, the Manhattan D.A.'s Office formed a specialized Worker Protection Unit in February 2023, spearheading prosecutions and recovery of stolen wages across various industries. Thus far, the unit has been productive, securing 9 prosecutions and redistributing over $1.3 million in stolen wages to workers. For those impacted by KMR's alleged malfeasance, the office has encouraged victims to reach out at (646) 712-0298 to support its ongoing investigation.
