Another 15 people will stand trial in the case of the modeling agency MaryWay.

      May 14, 2026 18:37 Incidents The Prosecutor's Office of Nizhny Novgorod has approved the indictment in the criminal case against 15 leaders and employees of the modeling agency MaryWay. They are accused of creating a criminal community, fraud, attempted fraud, and money laundering obtained through criminal means. This was reported by the agency's press service. According to the investigation, from March 2020 to February 2024, a 28-year-old organizer attracted accomplices from various regions of the country to illegal activities. Under the guise of training in acting and modeling skills, several commercial organizations were created. The company's offices operated in nine regions, including Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow. The group leader ensured their opening, selected personnel, and controlled financial flows. Most of the victims are young people and students who wanted to build a career in the modeling business or find a source of income. They paid from 20,000 to 600,000 rubles for training. They were promised employment, cooperation with well-known production centers, participation in shows and shoots. The investigation believes that the accused had no intention of fulfilling these obligations. The official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Irina Volk, noted that 399 people have been recognized as victims, and the total damage exceeded 65 million rubles. The organizer is also charged with money laundering in especially large amounts - with the money received, she purchased real estate in Moscow and the Moscow region, an expensive car, and jewelry. During the preliminary investigation, about 9 million rubles were reimbursed to the victims. The property of the accused has been seized for an amount of 72 million rubles. The criminal case has been sent to the Soviet District Court of Nizhny Novgorod for consideration on the merits. "Another criminal case against the former manager and three casting directors of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the modeling agency is currently being considered in the same court," added Volk. Let us remind you that the founder of the MaryWay agency, Maria Babkina, was detained in 2024. The affected residents of Nizhny Novgorod appealed to the Prosecutor General's Office and the Investigative Committee with a request to conduct an investigation at the federal level. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+