FROM:
Stephen Gibbons, Assistant District Attorney
Robin B. Wakshull, Deputy District Attorney
Consumer Protection Unit
(408) 792-2584 For release on June 1, 2004 CONSUMER ALERT RETURN OF PROPERTY TO VICTIMS OF MODELS INTERNATIONAL The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against Mary Reyes Valencia, also known as Reje Valencia, including grand theft and violations of the Advance-Fee Talent Service law. The charges arise out of operation of a business known as Models International, which was operating illegally as a model and talent agency and advanced-fee modeling service. The business was originally located in Los Gatos and later moved to Campbell, California. Valencia entered pleas to a number of felony and misdemeanor charges in separate cases in Santa Clara County and Monterey County and was sentenced to three (3) years in state prison. Photographs, slides and zed cards of hundreds of aspiring models were seized from Valencia’s office during the investigation. These materials have been ordered to be released to the models in the pictures. The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office will distribute the materials in its possession to their owners during the month of June. People who wish to claim their photographic materials should contact the District Attorney’s Office at (408)792-2880 to schedule an appointment to come in and pick up their photos ###