BOSTON -- Two men who operated a modeling agency have been indicted for allegedly stealing money from 13 prospective models by luring them to the agency through deceptive advertisements and making false statements and representations, Attorney General Tom Reilly announced today.

Edriss Farazi, 28, of Framingham was arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham Monday on 13 counts of larceny over $250, two counts of unemployment fraud and one count each of workers' compensation fraud, operating an unlicensed employment/modeling agency and false or fraudulent advertising by an employment agency. He pleaded not guilty and was held on $10,000 cash bail.

Farazi's co-defendant is Kevin Caruso, 28, formerly of Natick, now of Houston, Texas. Caruso was charged with four counts of larceny over $250. He failed to appear today and the court issued a warrant for his arrest.

In March 2004, Farazi opened Marvel Models in Needham, after another modeling and talent agency he owned ceased business. Caruso was employed by Farazi at Marvel Models.

In April 2004, the Needham Police Department received several complaints about Marvel Models and initiated an inquiry before contacting the Attorney General's Office and referring the matter.

In an effort to draw in aspiring models to open calls, Farazi sent out Marvel Models talent scouts to movie theaters and malls to recruit would-be models. They trained these scouts to approach likely prospects and ask if they had ever thought about becoming a model. These recruits were then invited back the following day for another meeting with either Farazi or Caruso.

The investigation found that at these open calls, Caruso attempted to persuade aspiring models to sign up for services and have their pictures placed on the Marvel Models website for a one-time fee of $595 and a monthly maintenance fee of $19.95. At these open calls, Farazi allegedly told the models that Marvel had been in business for years and had offices worldwide, specifically mentioning non-existent offices in London, Tokyo, Paris and Milan. After the sales pitch to perspective modeling clients, both Farazi and Caruso met with aspiring model one-on-one. During those meetings, the pair also allegedly attempted to sell photo shoots for $495. To further induce the models to pay money to Marvel, the investigation found that several models were falsely told that Marvel had supplied models for high-end fashion magazines.

The indictments allege that Farazi, with Caruso's assistance, lied about the size and breadth of his business clientele and falsely led prospective models to believe that his business was far larger and more successful than it actually was.

In total, the investigation alleges that Farazi stole approximately $10,000 from 13 aspiring models, male and female, ranging in age from two-years-old to thirty years-old.

Farazi also failed to register with the Division of Unemployment Assistance, he failed to obtain workers' compensation insurance, and he failed to obtain a license to operate a modeling agency.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Assistant Attorney General Georgia Critsley of AG Reilly's Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by investigators in the Attorney General's Office with assistance from the Needham Police Department.