Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the indictment of KAZARIAN/MEASURES/ RUSKIN & Associates (“KMR”) and MARK MEASURES, 60, for allegedly stealing approximately $1.8 million from 160 actors and approximately $26,000 in wages from employees in KMR’s New York City office between June 23, 2021, and March 22, 2024. KMR and MEASURES are charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with 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. [1]
 
“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. 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,” said District Attorney Bragg. “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.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record, between June 23, 2021, and March 22, 2024, KMR, a talent agency representing actors in film, commercial, and voiceover work nationwide, received, and deposited checks issued to actors “care of KMR,” yet failed to distribute the funds. Instead, MEASURES, President of KMR, diverted these funds to pay business expenses, creditors, and personal expenditures. When actors inquired about their payments, MEASURES made excuses, blaming the “bank” or “slow mail,” and promised to send out checks that either bounced or were never sent. In some instances, actors have still not received their payments for work they did years ago.

Until March 2024, KMR operated as a franchise of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union (“SAG-AFTRA”). As a SAG-AFTRA franchise, KMR was required to hold funds from production companies in trust and disburse such funds to actors “promptly,” meaning within seven business days after deducting a 10% commission.

The majority of the alleged theft involved residual payments and holding fees, which can be difficult to monitor. Most of the actors filmed commercials, voiced advertisements, and appeared in television shows like Law & Order while juggling other jobs to pursue full-time acting careers in New York City. At least two actors live with disabilities, others relied on their earnings to cover essential medical procedures, and many suffered financial hardships due to KMR’s theft.

KMR repeatedly offered multiple excuses for the late payments, including blaming the bank (for issues they created themselves), earthquakes, power blackouts, sick employees, and mail delays. MEASURES personally called or emailed many actors, assuring them that they would be paid and never disputing the amounts owed. He ultimately ceased communications with the actors altogether.

It is further alleged that, in addition to embezzling funds from its actors, KMR also stole approximately $26,000 from wages intended for the 401(k) accounts of six KMR employees based in New York City. These employees had been contributing a portion of their weekly wages to a 401(k)-plan managed by Lincoln Financial, but those funds were never invested, only deducted from their paychecks. Between September 2023 and March 2024, KMR illegally pocketed the 401(k) funds from these employees, in amounts ranging from $1,700 to $9,000. 

During this alleged larceny scheme, MEASURES enjoyed luxury items and services, including purchases at Crypto.com Arena and the Four Seasons Hotel Spa, and clothing from high-end brands like Stuart Weitzman, Ermenedgildo Zegna, and more. KMR also permitted lending institutions access to these funds, enabling them to debit money directly from the accounts holding actors’ payments.

 

Manhattan D.A.’s Worker Protection Unit

In February 2023, District Attorney Bragg launched the Office’s first Worker Protection Unit to investigate and prosecute wage theft and other forms of worker exploitation across Manhattan. The Unit pursues criminal charges against individuals and corporations that jeopardize their workers’ safety and steal their wages. The Unit also enforces workplace safety labor laws, incorporating the work of the Office’s Construction Fraud Task Force, and pursues criminal charges when an employer creates dangerous or deadly work environments.

Building on the Office’s leadership in prosecuting wage theft in the construction and real estate development industries, the Worker Protection Unit expanded the Office’s focus to include other industries with high rates of worker exploitation.

To date, the Office’s Worker Protection Unit has brought 9 prosecutions and recovered and distributed over $1.3 million in wages stolen from more than four dozen workers.

Assistant D.A. Rachana Pathak (Chief of the Worker Protection Unit) is handling the prosecution of this case with Assistant D.A. James Clarke (Worker Protection Unit) under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Christopher Beard (Deputy Chief of the Rackets Bureau) and Judy Salwen (Principal Deputy Chief of the Rackets Bureau) and Executive Assistant D.A. Jodie Kane (Chief of the Investigation Division). Danielle Corbett (Coordinator of the Worker Protection Unit), Assistant Chief of Investigations Jonathan Reid, Forensic Accountant Investigator Kenneth Zorn, Assistant D.A. Stephen DiGregoria, Paralegals Lilah Hixson and Ava Thomas, and DANY Investigators Genesis Cornielle and Haley Fitzpatrick are providing valuable assistance in this case.

 

Defendant Information:

KAZARIAN/MEASURES/ RUSKIN & Associates (“KMR”)

 

MARK MEASURES

Los Angeles, CA

Charged:

• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 3 counts
• Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 28 counts
• Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, 1 count
• Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts
• Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, 3 counts

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.