LOS ANGELES—Derek Hay, founder of adult talent agency LA Direct Models, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom today to receive sentencing on two felony counts to which he pleaded guilty in May. After hours of impact statements from women connected to the acts of perjury and conspiracy to commit pandering for which Hay now awaits sentencing, the proceedings were carried over by the judge to August 2.
Hay and two co-defendants were handed a grand jury indictment in September of 2022 by California Attorney General Rob Bonta that included charges of pimping, pandering, conspiracy, money laundering and perjury. Hay was arraigned on the grand jury indictment in March 2023.
Hay's legal troubles date back to 2018 when attorney Allan B. Gelbard, who was present at today's court hearing, filed a complaint against LA Direct Models before the California Labor Commissioner's Office.
During the labor hearings throughout 2019, several women, identified as "Jane Does," accused Hay and LA Direct Models of violating the Talent Agencies Act. The "Jane Does" eventually identified themselves as Charlotte Cross, Shay Evans, Sofi Ryan, Andi Rye and Hadley Viscara—all once represented by Hay and his talent agency. All five gave impact statements at today's hearing.
AVN reported in 2020 that Labor Commissioner hearing officer Patricia Salazar found for the five models, ruling that Hay violated the law when he withheld commission payments to the performers.
Hay was ordered to pay back the commissions, including attorney fees and court costs. His attorney, Richard Freeman, told AVN at the time that he immediately filed an appeal for trial de novo in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
This is a developing story.
