A 45-year-old man, who allegedly poses as a talent scout for major television networks, is wanted for sexual battery, according to an advisory from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
The suspect, identified as Anthony Jefferson, reportedly lured women from the Los Angeles area to Bakersfield by posting jobs for personal assistants, models and actresses on various internet sites, said the advisory.
The women who contacted Bakersfield Police officers to describe what had occurred, ranged in age from between 20 and 53 years old and were from such nearby areas as Westlake, Sherman Oaks, Beverly Hills and Hollywoood.
According to authorities, Jefferson utilized legitimate trademarks and employee names of major television networks as part of his illicit offenses. He also used email addresses that appear to be legitimate television networks and employment related forms with legitimate business trademarks.
He would meet the victims in restaurants or hotels. He then obtained the victims’ personal identity information and convinced them to use their own personal credit cards to purchase items.
In two of the cases, Jefferson asked women to perform sexual acts with him as part of an audition.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111, or Detective Rodrigues at 661-326-3870.
Sheriff's offer the following tips to assist persons using the Internet to look for employment:
• Research the company and confirm it is a legitimate business.
• Do not provide your personal identifying information unless you are certain it is a legitimate business.
• Be cautious of meeting in hotel rooms or other private locations without first verifying the validity of the job and the full nature of the interview or audition.
