BOSTON -- A former Needham, Mass., businessman was indicted Monday on a variety of charges related to a now defunct modeling agency that many alleged was a scam.

NewsCenter 5's Susan Wornick reported that Edriss Farazi appeared in court Monday, charged with bilking more than a dozen people out of thousands of dollars.

The case goes back to September 2004. Marvel Modeling agency was accused of luring unsuspecting people with promises of big glamorous jobs.

NewsCenter 5 heard the same story from several young women, who said that they were stopped at a mall by a supposed talent scout.

"He's like, 'Oh, I work for Marvel Models, and we're looking for beautiful girls just like you," one woman said.

But after paying more than $600 each, the teens got neither jobs nor their money back.

"They lied to us -- stole money, tried to get more money. That's just not fair," the woman said.

The indictment alleges that Farazi stole money in an amount greater than $250 from 13 people, including the parents of a 2-year-old. He was also charged with operating an unlicensed modeling agency and false advertising.

Kevin Caruso of Natick is a co-defendant in the case, but he didn't show up in court. He was charged with contempt and an arrest warrant was issued.

The Attorney General's office said it was a very serious case involving felonies. Farazi's bail was set at $10,000, and the case was continued until next month.