Local

Models say they haven't been paid by agent

ATLANTA — A group of local models told Channel 2 Action News they have been caught in a money dispute after their agent has not paid them for jobs they did months ago.

Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri talked to several models who said they're owed thousands of dollars.

At least one of the women filed a report with Atlanta police and said she's suing after her then agent cashed a check worth thousands made out to her but never gave her the money she earned. Instead, he told her the payment hadn't come in yet.

"I have not been paid; I tried my best to mediate the situation and correspond and try to handle it civilly, and it led me nowhere," model Vanessa Tatijana told Viteri.

Tatijana shot a hair care ad campaign in August of last year. She started seeing her picture everywhere but hadn't seen any of the $2,500 dollars she was owed.

She said her agent, Jay Glover with HD, the agency, told her the payment was just slow to come in, but eventually she called the company directly.

"They verified for that campaign the checks were sent out and he had cashed them I think October 9," Tatijana said.

Viteri got a copy of the report she filed with Atlanta police saying Glover cashed her check for $2,500. Viteri checked Tatijana's contract, which said, "Agent will give all applicable funds to talent within 5 days of payment."

Sonja Anthony said she, too, is out more than $2,500 after working with Glover. She told Viteri she was told her payment was behind after she worked as an extra on the BET show, "The Game," in November.

The company sent her a copy of the check, showing Glover cashed it in December.

"It immediately verified my gut feeling that I was having before. Which was why is this money taking so long," Anothony said.

A model named Jah appeared in a video with Lil Wayne and Atlanta Rapper 2Chainz in January. She told Viteri she hasn't been paid, but a copy of the check from the production company shows $500 went to HD, the agency, late January.

"People are just not getting paid and we should get paid for our work. You know we work hard," Anthony said.

Glover declined Viteri's request for an interview and sent her a statement saying, "HD the agency has a 10 year documented track record of effectively representing many of Atlanta's top models. The defamatory allegations that have been made against my company were calculated to destroy my reputation and have caused my company irreparable harm."

Viteri got a statement from one of the hair care companies the models worked for, saying the company reissued payment because taking care of the models is of utmost importance to them.

A spokesperson said they had no knowledge the models weren't being paid and expressed disappointed.