Hollywood Kids

Agency: Los Angeles City Attorney
Description: On May 15, 2009, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office filed multiple criminal charges against this company and its principal, Carl Carranza. The charges filed allege the company placed deceptive ads on craigslist.org in a bait and switch scheme to get child clients and their parents to pay nearly $1,500 in up front fees for talent services.

The charges were filed in the public interest, when the City Attorney’s office received five complaints alleging violations that occurred in February and March of 2009. The complainants all alleged that the defendant, doing business as Scooters Fab Flashcast, had employed misleading advertisements, primarily on the Internet at www.craigslist.org.
The charges filed, allege the ads appeared to be part of a no-cost talent search looking for children to work in modeling, catalogs and television commercials. Individuals responding to the advertisement in the jobs section of the site were subsequently invited by email to appear for an appointment at the company’s office in Universal City. Only after waiting at the office were individuals informed that the company was actually soliciting them for a service costing $1,495 in exchange for procuring a licensed agent.

The current charges follow a 2002 jury conviction on 10 counts of false advertising for similar business practices involving print advertisements for casting calls that turned out to be a service charging for submissions. The company was on notice that their advertising practices constituted false advertising, in violation of the laws of the State of California.

The defendants, were each charged with five criminal counts of making false or misleading statements in order to sell a good or service. If convicted, the defendant could face up to two years and six months in jail, and be fined $12,500 in penalties and assessments. Arraignment is scheduled for June 17 in Division 81 of the Los Angeles Superior Court.

On October 6, 2009, to settle the charges filed in May, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office announced it has secured criminal convictions on this company and its operator, Carl Carranza, and owner, Flashcast Companies, Inc.

“Scooters” operator, Carl Ken Carranza, and its owner, Flashcast Companies Inc., each pled no contest to two counts of false advertising. Mr. Carranza and the companies were placed on 36 months probation and sentenced to 90 days in jail or 600 hours of community service. Carranza and the Corporation were also ordered to pay $17,145 in restitution to 11 victims, not to attempt to collect any portion of outstanding fees from persons who notify the court by November 5 and to prominently display on future advertisements that the company is not a free service. Upon entry, the Order was finalized.

Date of Action: 10/6/2009