Mark Measures, owner and president of talent agency KMR, was arraigned in the Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday after allegedly stealing money from the clients he represented.
Measures is alleged to have stolen $1.8 million from 160 actors based in New York and about $26,000 from six employees between June 2021 and March 2024. He was arraigned Tuesday as part of a 40-count indictment, which included one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree, three counts of grand larceny in the second degree, 28 counts of grand larceny in the third degree, five counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree and three counts of petit larceny.
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Measures pleaded not guilty.
Measures represented clients including Elizabeth Perkins and Merrin Dungey on their voicework, and was a talent agent for clients including the late Wink Martindale and Meredith Monroe.
In court, prosecutors claimed that Measures “raided” the escrow account in which the agency kept their clients’ earnings. Measures allegedly used the money in the account to pay for personal and operating expenses, as well as paying off creditors, Four Seasons spa treatments, clothing, car payments and at least $55,000 for Los Angeles Crypto Arena seats.
While there are 160 alleged victims in New York, prosecutors stressed that there are more than 300 alleged victims nationwide. Because the theft was alleged to have taken place starting in 2021, prosecutors said some clients had not been paid for years.Additionally, Measures is said to have stolen money set aside for employee retirement accounts.
In the April indictment, the DA’s office added that when clients asked about payments, Measures allegedly “made excuses, blaming the ‘bank’ or ‘slow mail,’ and promised to send out checks that either bounced or were never sent.”
Measures was led into the courtroom Tuesday in cuffs and was released on his own recognizance after the hearing. The judge demanded Measures turnover his passport and hire his own attorney, as he was represented at the arraignment hearing by a free attorney.
As of March 22, 2024, KMR had inactivated its franchises in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta with SAG-AFTRA, according to the union. At that time, the union said, “No member of SAG-AFTRA may hereafter engage, use or deal through this agency,” and that any contracts between the agency and members of SAG-AFTRA were to be terminated.
He is due back in court July 15.
“As alleged, Mark Measures and KMR stole approximately $1.8 million from 160 hard working actors, many of whom were balancing other jobs to stay afloat while pursuing their acting careers. These defendants also stole thousands of dollars from his employees by taking wages that were meant to be invested in their retirement accounts. Rather than pay the actors and employees, the defendants used their hard-earned money to fund his lavish lifestyle,” Manhattan District Attorney Bragg said in a statement. “This alleged conduct is egregious, and we will continue to fight for Manhattanites to receive every dollar they earn. This is an ongoing investigation — if you are a victim, please contact our office at (646) 712-0298.”
In a press conference after the hearing, Bragg was asked if there are other individuals who could be facing charges.
“We’ve charged the individual and the corporation. It’s ongoing, and we want, if there people have been wrong, to come forward, and we’ll follow the facts where they come,” Bragg said.
