Sex Offender Accused Of Teen Modeling Scam

BOSTON -- A sex offender believed to be running a modeling agency is under fire Wednesday after police say he did not properly register with officials as required by law, and teenage models say he took their money and dashed their hopes.

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Pam Cross Reports On Charges Susan Wornick Reports On Accusations

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that police say Edriss Farazi, a Level 2 sex offender, is conducting business at a Needham address not listed with the sex offender registry. Also known as Edward Farazi, he was given probation, not jail time, for indecent assault on a woman two years ago.

As required, Farazi registered as a sex offender, but listed his work address as Framingham. Needham police investigated Farazi after receiving complaints from clients of Marvel Models, a company police say he operates from a Needham office building. Not listing his current Needham work address violates the terms of his probation.

Complaints about his modeling business landed Farazi in court Wednesday.

Farazi's lawyer said he is the target of clients who are unhappy that their modeling careers didn't take off.

"It is unfortunate that people make accusations, and he becomes very vulnerable to false accusations. This involves disgruntled clients," said defense attorney Thomas Giblin.

Police believe Farazi is the president of Marvel Models, but his lawyer said he's a consultant and he's done nothing wrong.

"The man is not a full-time employee there, he does consulting. He is there, but not all the time. It is just a matter of disgruntled people trying to hurt someone," said Giblin.

Farazi was released on $500,000 cash bond and left the courthouse without comment.

Farazi will appear in court for improperly registering with the state's sex offender board in October. Farazi will return to a Worcester court in two weeks for a probation review.

There are no outstanding charges of sexual assault or misconduct against Farazi, and he is not accused of abusing any models. Rather, NewsCenter 5's Susan Wornick reported, the models say he took their money and didn't come up with the modeling jobs they paid for.

Wornick said she began investigating Farazi and Marvel Models after receiving dozens of complaints from teenagers who say they were stopped at area malls by someone claiming to be an agent saying they could get them great modeling jobs. But after paying hundreds of dollars, the teenagers got nothing.

Pamela Generoso, Nathalia Lima and Raissa Gomes say Farazi approached them at the Natick Mall.

"(Farazi) said, 'You should be a model, you guys are beautiful,' stuff like that. 'I work for models and we are looking for beautiful girls like you three,'" said Generoso, 14.

Farazi then allegedly invited the teens to a casting call.

"I felt so excited, because all I ever wanted was chance to be a model," said Lima, 15. "I was shocked because I never had a chance like that."

The teens said when they arrived at Marvel Models in Needham, they were told modeling would cost hundreds of dollars, and their parents paid with cash and credit cards.

"Our parents didn't think twice before paying. They paid right there at the same time," said Gomes, 15. "They were excited too."

But after paying more than $600 each, the teens could not get answers about where or when they would start modeling. They say research on the Internet convinced them that Farazi and Marvel Models had tricked them.

"I don't know what to say," said Gomes. "They, like, lied to us. Stole money, tried to get more money. That is just not fair."

Wornick tried to speak with Farazi at his home in Framingham Wednesday, but no one came to the door.

"Any chance we get for doing something big like that -- we get so excited," said Lima.

"To find out that it was just all fake, it was horrible," said Gomes.

The teens and their families have filed complaints with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.