Sleazy Agency OwnersLured by modeling promises, forced into sexCops asking other victims to come forwardSaturday, December 14, 2002 By Michaelangelo Conte Two Jersey City men who operated a bogus modeling agency and forced underage girls to have sex with one or more of them while being photographed or videotaped were arrested earlier this week, officials said. Reggie Moore, 35, of Pearsall Avenue, was charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual assault, said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio. Joseph French, 25, of Bergen Avenue, was charged with aggravated sexual contact and conspiracy to commit sexual assault, DeFazio said. Investigators are still searching for Brigdon Campbell, 21, of Carteret Avenue, on charges of conspiracy to commit sexual assault, DeFazio said. The three men allegedly solicited girls and women between the ages of 15 and 18 from the Jersey City area using flyers and promising them modeling careers, then coerced the girls into posing nude for photographs, DeFazio said. DeFazio said the photographs were then used as leverage to force them to perform sexual acts while being photographed or videotaped. The fake modeling agency operated under the name TFC Productions, and the incidents of sexual assault took place at various locations around Jersey City, DeFazio said. TFC Productions had no office, he said. "There may be other victims out there and we would like to hear from them or their guardians if they have been subject to this abuse," DeFazio said. "So far we have four victims where charges have been made, but we have reason to believe there were considerably more young ladies subjected to this activity, possibly more than a dozen." The investigation began in November, when the parent of one of the models contacted the Prosecutors Office's Sexual Assault Victims Assistance unit. DeFazio said he believes the modeling scam may have been operating for several months before the parent came forward. "We are advising that people be very circumspect when it comes to solicitations concerning modeling careers," said DeFazio. Anyone with information about TFC Productions is asked to call SAVA at (201) 915-1234, DeFazio said. Moore remained in the Hudson County jail in Kearny yesterday, while French was released on a $50,000 bail bond, DeFazio said. |