There’s a new development in that Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office crackdown on Hollywood managers and agencies it believes are running afoul of the state’s labor law, the Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act of 2009, which prohibits charging advance fees. Four talent managers have been accused of charging improper fees, the highest-profile one being Nick Roses. Now this week Roses, the one-time 21-year-old wunderkind talent manager based in Studio City, entered a no-contest plea to one count of operating an advance-fee talent representation service and one count of failing to file the proper $50,000 bond with the State Labor Commission. Judge Yolanda Orozco sentenced Roses to serve 90 days in jail or perform 45 days of Community Labor, and to 36 months probation. During that time, Roses is ordered to have no involvement with any talent training service, talent counseling service, or talent listing service anywhere, including outside the state of California. Roses also was ordered not to be involved with any “camp”, education facility, or day care facility attended by anyone under the age of 18. Failure to abide by the terms of probation will result in Roses being sentenced to at least 6 months of jail. In addition to the above, Roses is ordered to pay $10,700 in total restitution to the three complaining witnesses, and to pay $2,000 investigative costs to the City Attorney’s Office.
Deputy City Attorney Mark Lambert successfully prosecuted the case of Roses who was convicted of operating an advance-fee talent service that placed several minors at risk of harm. In January 2011, three parents contacted the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office to complain about talent manager Roses’ business practices. What happened is that, in 2010, each of the parents, all Ohio residents, met Roses at an Ohio Talent agency workshop. Roses offered to manage their children — ages 6, 13, and 14 at the time — and advised each of the parents to relocate to Los Angeles and sign up for his summer entertainment industry “boot camp”.
Each of the parents ultimately relocated to Los Angeles and paid approximately $3,000 per child toattend the August 2010 week-long “boot camp.” The parents complained the event was extremely disorganized, with participants ranging in age from 6 to 62, all randomly thrown together. Roses failed to provide adequate seating, sufficient food, water, and breaks during the 12-hour program. Many of the children became ill, including one girl who developed swollen lungs, hives and rashes.
The fascinating rise & fall of Nick Roses was chronicled by Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva. It is a story that dominated conversations among talent agents and managers for months because the youth talent manager was well-known and working for established management company Luber Roklin Entertainment. He had been running the scheme through his own company, and Luber Roklin had been unaware of Roses’ extracurricular activities. Immediately after Roses’ indictment, he was suspended by Luber Roklin. His name has since been removed from the company’s staff directory on IMDb Pro. Read more background on this case here and on the City Attorney’s investigations here and here.


As if reporting gossip is saintly….please he is still allowed to be an agent & or manager….so at the end of the day he wasn’t such a scam, he simply didn’t follow correct protocol & heI got a slap on the wrist…believe me he is the phoenix that will rise & even stronger…there are more people that love & support him rather than wanting him to fail…
partners at the company met with roses on friday of last week and asked that he write a letter explaining what he had learned from this experience. they said that they would read over the weekend and determine whether or not he would come back to work. they also freely admitted that was hired with the knowledge that the money from his bootcamps and workshops be split with the company.
I call this business the 3F’s (Family, Friends and Favors). This is a business of networking and marketing yourself. There are scams in ‘many’ industries and Hollywood is just teeming with them. ‘Sam’ had a perfect comment, “it is best to go the extra route so that you know the reality of what you are getting yourself into.” I agree. There is no better training than OJT.
For the parents, it’s too easy to do some research before handing over money, and these scams are so obvious I find it hard to believe people still fall for it. It is equally absurd that certain individuals can continue to pull these stunts off. They SHOULD be hung out to dry! Parents should also learn the casting process, what an agent does right up to how money flows through a production and then apply some street smarts. Remember percentages are made off of actors in any capacity and therefore, NO UPFRONT FEES SHOULD EVER BE CHARGED! Congrats to Mr. Lambert and his ethics.
If you wish to pay for classes then by all means do so. Use common sense however, some of these courses could be conducted by failed/out of work actors themselves. Again that goes back to the 3F’s. I’ve witnessed take after take from some of the most popular names. How did ‘they’ get there? Thank god for editor’s, story lines etc. because some of them should not even be in front of the lens.
The parents of these sons/daughter have a role that is fit for him/her believe me, but this is a business and should be treated as such. It’s also a tightly knit group and your not going to just, Break In.
And Sam also commented on endurance during a shoot and I have to disagree with this one. These guys that do construction have endurance, athlete’s have endurance. The only thing you will ever get on a movie set 90% of the time is rigor mortis.
Great comments “R” – right on the money! I’m assuming from the name that you are “the” Richard Schimmelpfenneg? Find it hard to believe there’d be two people with that last name in the industry… Looking forward to seeing Hardcover Mysteries. Keep up the good work man!
Anyone would be lucky to be represented by Nick. He is one of the hardest working managers in Los Angeles. Luber Roklin is lucky to have him. This is just a hiccup for him.
Spoken like a true mom.
I’m confused — so Luber Roklin has NOT fired Roses? They’ve only suspended him? Sorry but his name listed or not on IMDB Pro does not mean he has or has not been fired — it means his name is not listed on IMDB Pro. Does Luber Roklin refuse to comment when asked if he’s been fired? Has no one bothered to actually ask them if he’s been fired?
Clarify please!!
Nikki you are sensationalizing this kid and I do not believe for one second that Luber Rocklin was unaware of his activities. Why are you giving them a pass? You don’t even quote them in this article.
My kids were managed by Nick Roses and although he got a slap on the wrist, the time he’s been away from Luber Roklin has been a blessing to me because the guy is way too full of himself, an habitual liar and thinks he’s Hollywood. If Luber Roklin allows him to come back and work for them, I will be sending them a drop letter immediately because I don’t like his style. He’s a hard-working liar and he has a lot of parents who don’t know anything fooled.
Nick Roses is not a good manager or agent and should not have any clients. I hope word gets out about keeps getting out about how shady he is. He is only after money and doesn’t care about doing the best for the talent. What a class A creep.
Nick Roses is done. No room for you in this industry. Woohoo! Glad he is getting all that he deserves. What a huge scumbag.
To the parents who defend him:
Please stop being so naive, for your children’s sake. Nick is has been a joke in this town for quite some time — before these charges. Now, he is a liability. Agents and studios will stear clear of him because they don’t want to be charged as “accessories” to a crime if he should violate his parole. Do you really think this will be good for your kid’s career? Think you’ll get more auditions? Think his representation will get the best deal when you book?
Secondly, his judgement is obviously lacking. Two examples: He knew about the law and chose to violate it, and still does not apparently show remorse. One look at his partying facebook page should make a parent think twice about allowing their children to be influenced by him. Not to mention he is a convicted criminal.
You pay a manager for their JUDGEMENT, their ADVICE. Think about it.
To Luber Roklin:
You are considering keeping him? A convicted criminal, working with children? You have got to be kidding me. Why in the world would a legitimate company allow themselves to be exposed to the legal risk? Yes, he has the right to make a living as a manager. But that doesn’t mean he has to do it under your banner.
Nick is the best thing that has happened to my child and her career. We have had 3 other managers who did nothing. Nick put my daughter with Coast to Coast and she books, all the time! We are excited Nick is back
Dig deeper; is he using an assumed name? A person can change schools or enter the country without papers and enroll in a US school, claiming to be younger than they really are so that he can get benefits. I’m suspicious of anyone who comes literally from nowhere with a fake sounding name.
To the defending parent sheep… Contrary to what Nickie is telling people – let’s get some facts straight. Nickie WAS charged with 9 felony counts. Either on advice of legal counsel, or on his on accord – he chose to take what is obviously a plea bargain down to the charges about not being bonded. However, his sentence includes all of the other legal requirements he SHOULD HAVE been following in addition to the bond, and then some. He was breaking the law or behaving unethically with all of his activities – which is how he met Mara Santino in the first place.
There are so many facts missing – like the FACT that he would require all of his clients to live at a certain housing complex, because he had worked a deal that his rent would then be free. He is the kickback king. All behaviors that might make his decisions not be in any client, or potential clients, best interest. It’s pretty clear that is the way he rolls.
But, he is not alone in this type of behavior, where desperate and unaware people toss aside common sense because they believe someone’s ‘dazzle’. Looking forward to many more events like this that start to clean up those who freely take advantage of others in this biz.
unreal! this Kid was the head of a companies “youth” department and he negotiated porn deals. fact. the woman who had an affair with ashton kutcher came to nick and the company allowed him to get a deal with her at vivid video. no questions asked. any parent who puts this kid in charge of the careers of their kid, is also guilty! do your research.
Anyone who thinks that Luber-Rocklin is innocent in all this is nuts. Just do a search for Mara Santino or Stephanie Moy or Luber Rocklin and “workshop”. These schemes that attract parents from all over the US are legendary and parents MUST do the research before paying hundreds and even thousands to these opportunist agents, managers and casting directors. Look for more prosecutions and convictions soon. Hey, what ever happened to that other scumbag manager Pat O’Brien?
Penny, you’re misinformed and i suspect not that bright. Paul Bunyon is legendary, the 1980 U.S. Men’s hockey team – also legendary. Illegal talent workshop schemes? Not Legendary. If someone searched the words “Penny” and “Fuck-swing,” they would probably be directed to the post I’m writing. Does that mean you have a Fuck-Swing?
To suggest that Stephanie Moy and Mara Santino swim in the Rose Pool, is criminal. You should be sentenced to thirty days hard labor at grammar camp. You’re foolish.
They are two of the nicest people you’ll ever come across. Stephanie has the most difficult job at that company and handles it all with grace, she’s also a fox. Mara hugs everyone she meets. It’s not a gimmick. It’s who she is – a very non-Penny type. also a fox.
Penny, I hope you find what you’re looking for in life. I really do. You should borrow my fuck-swing and create a legend of your own. If you’re lucky a ballad will be written in your honor. Children will sing of an Outlaw Idiot named Penny, who fuck-swinged like the wind….
“truth” You have no Idea what your talking about related to someone much? “Stephanie has the most difficult job at that company and handles it all with grace” She is a super nice person, but this is a no.
Nick is not LR anymore.
wow! you guys are amazing,you’re the same people that could not wait to do business with Nick or be associated with him that are taking cheap shots at him, now that he’s down and wounded. how hypocritical! the sad part is none of you really know the kid. But, most of you are happy he got in trouble (competing managers, talent agent etc…) you’re hiding behind you PC’s when you should be ashamed to let a 21 years come around give you guys a round for your money. If you were doing such agreat job Nick would not have a chance, the fact is, he’s extremely good at being a manager and care very much for his clients. These parents are crying foul and playing victims now when their kids are not performing or getting the calls that others were getting, they were all present, every single days at those training session, why no one said anything if really things were that bad, why would you put your kids through that if this was true? the reality is some of them were willing and ready to go to bed with him so their kids can be the next Hollywood superstar. Did they tell you how many kids he gave free scholarship to those seminars, he had come up with money from his own pocket to cover fees for those events. Someone mentioned he was getiing kickbaks from the apartment complex and living there for free…he must be pretty stupid for moving out and go renting somewhere else..lol. Yes Nick broke the law and he’s paying for him, he should, but he’s not the bad guy people are trying to make of him, he’s aggresiive yes, that’s who you want to work for you kid, he gets things done, hands down. Don’t blame him for that. LR wiped their hands clean when they should be backing up the kid, guide him, that’s exactly what he needs,that speaks volume about them. Now people knows when things goes wrong with their kids LR will be bailing out on them, they were lucky to have Nick. He will be back, because he deserves a second chance we all do. I wish him well and hope that he surround himself with the right people to guide him and help him make the right decision for his career and his clients.
When Nick left Luber & Roklin he was replaced with Danielle Lenniger. Who became so inflated with the title she was given that she lost focus on the kids and took favorites under her wing. The whole situation was messy and no one stepped up to the plate properly to talk to the confused parents that were left behind to figure things out on their own. And now that the dust has settled the only person now giving answers to those that needed responses is Nick himself. He has a lot to prove again but obviously many still believe in him because he is still being called upon by major talent agencies and has the resources to start aknew. I for one will have him in my prayers…he’s assumed to the consequences and isn’t going anywhere.
I feel I can speak for many who’ve known Nick on both a personal and business level. Payback’s a bitch.