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A seemingly-fake reality TV show

Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:58 PM by Dateline Editor
Filed Under: ,

Chris Hansen, Dateline correspondent

Every once in a while a story finds you. Such is the case with the hour-long investigation we'll bring you on Friday night, May 2.  

I think it's one of the most unique and interesting stories we've done this year and it came to us in an equally unique and interesting way. It was a tip from a Texas-based cameraman that got the ball rolling. In the past, Izzy Cardoza had done some work for NBC News and so he felt comfortable calling NBC after he says a so-called producer/reality show host didn't pay him for a project Izzy and his crew shot.

Izzy, as it turned out had kept all the tapes as collateral and when the producer/host never came up with a promised certified check, Izzy and his crew walked off the job with the tapes.

Guess who has the tapes now?

That's right, Dateline. And they not only make for compelling television, they allowed us to track down a group of contestants who say they were duped into believing they were going to appear worldwide on a reality show. The group was told that the winner would get $50,000 and the possibility of a big time modeling contract.

The host/producer was a fellow named Gemase Simmons.  He claimed to be a former supermodel, but as our investigation would reveal, that and so many other things he claimed couldn't be confirmed or just weren't true.

As you'll see, Simmons puts the contestants through the kind of grueling physical contests that have become reality show fare, but it's what was going on off-camera that was really bizarre.

We'll show you that, and also what happens when we go looking for Gemase Simmons to ask him what he was really up to.

'Reality Bites' aired on Friday, May 2. Click here to read Gemase Simmons' response after the broadcast.

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Comments

A teacher who works in the trenches to help young people, I have little sympathy for people who get conned while trying to become "stars"; these people need to look for real jobs. The conned are as much of the problem as the con man.

Jon Davis (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 4:42 PM)

Chris Hansen,thank you for exposing con men and con women who are out to take everything that belongs to a person.I desperately need your help in a case of a money investment my husband and I made with a well known company.
Thank you for any help.

Elisabeth Rogers, Jasper, Texas (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 5:06 PM)

Chis Hansen,

You bring the police to every opportune moment you 'catch a predator.' What was so different in this situation.

Dateline did a great job of hunting him down - I am really disappointed no one thought to call the police on a fugitive with the sexual intent.

I am sure you have every resource there is to find him again - my suggestion is that you do just that, but this time the right way!

Belinda Rodriguez, San Antonio, Texas (Sent Monday, May 05, 2008 6:05 PM)

I'm so glad Gemase's lies are FINALLY being exposed to the nation!  I was a victim of this scam as well. It was January of last year that Gemase had told me that he had wanted to hire me as a staff photographer for his agency that was called "Stone Model Management" at the time.  I worked for him for about a month until I was informed of him being a fraud.  He never paid me either, and he owes me about $500 for the work I did for him.

Jade, San Antonio, TX (Sent Tuesday, May 06, 2008 12:35 PM)

Chris Hansen asked what the "models" thought Gemase's motivation was for doing this since he was obviously not taking them for their money and they had a variety of answers. I think that his motivation must've been to actually put the show on the air. According to the broadcast he did contact the ion network about broadcasting his show. He apparently had no money or sponsorship to get his project off the ground. If he has the felony convictions that we learned about on dateline no company is going to hire him and if he's not paying his bills, he probably doesn't have the credit to get a loan to start a business of his own. Perhaps this was his attempt to make an honest living by pursuing a dream of his and it just failed miserably. As far as the perverted allegations, well, that sounds like sour grapes from failed contestants on a reality show. I did wonder why they whined about him being present for the bikini wax when they fully expected the event to air in 202 countries around the world. I didn't hear them complain about the camera crew present taping so much of their private areas that some of it had to be blocked out for tv. Just wanted to share another possible view. There is usually more to any given story then is on the surface. They all need prayer.

Nina Hesser (Sent Tuesday, May 06, 2008 5:10 PM)

he also had a company by the name of stone models in the year 2006 i was a part of his first cycle

olivia dallas tx (Sent Tuesday, May 06, 2008 11:40 PM)

I have known Gemase for many years. We were members of the same church. I also have stock in his company that is worthless. Yes, he is a dreamer, and he used the talent God gave him for the wrong purpose. But instead of condeming him we need to pray for him. He is not the first to do wrong and he won't be the last. May God have mercy on him.

someone who cares (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:57 PM)

Maybe I'm too cautious, maybe I am paranoid, but I ALWAYS ALWAYS make it a habit to look up *anyone* I meet, (potential mates, friends, bosses) on google, and also my county's clerk of courts page for lawsuits, traffic violations, etc.  

Maybe these individuals were too naive and trusting, hopefully this will be a lesson to do more research, but it is important to google people, especially if you plan to give up money, do business with them, or do something as drastic as putting your jobs, schooling or bills on hold and turn down scholarships.  

Also, use the BBB site if Google turns up no searches for a business entity.  It is interesting to see what a google search can uncover, perhaps had these young adults done this, they would have saved themselves a lot of time, money, heartache, and almost being raped/fondled by a lewd individual.

Employers and colleges are using google, facebook, or myspace to screen out potential applicants, why not use it to screen out phonies and frauds like this piece of work?

Natalie K., Miami, FL (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:59 PM)

If a member of the original cast spoke to a law enforcement agent about Gemase  and learned he had outstanding warrants, then why wasn't he arrested at that point? some of the answers that the cast members gave about the sexual encounters sounds like they weren't 100% candid.

dianne (Sent Friday, May 09, 2008 1:37 AM)

I'm a personal friend of Izzy Cardoza and I'm so happy that he exposed such a criminal.  Izzy is a very professional, excellent photojournalist and it's thanks to people like that that tip of the news that hopefully will help parents be more wary of predators.

martha, san antonio, texas (Sent Friday, May 09, 2008 3:42 PM)

Gemase Simmons also operated at least 2 fake talent / model agencies in TX (Gemase Models, Muse Models).  Texas law requires such agencies to be specially licensed BEFORE attempting to recruit talent.

I'm really surprised that niether the Dateline crew nor the TX Dept of License and Registration didn't take this information and run with it.

For more information about talent agencies and the law in TX visit:
http://www.license.state.tx.us/talent/talent.htm

Ken Elsner, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Thursday, May 15, 2008 9:35 PM)

I'm from Houston, TX and now live in NYC.  Watched the show and appreciate your airing it.  There are so many scammers out there, it was really shocking to see such a blatant offense in my old backyard...  People don't realize how incredibly BELIEVABLE con artists are in person.  They could win an Oscar for their performances.  They NEVER break character, and they have perfected their spiel to the point of not having to think twice about what they say.  Bottom line is to TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS, no matter what golden opportunity you might think you are passing up by running like crazy in the opposite direction!  God gave us that 6th sense about something you can't put your finger on not *quite* feeling right, to protect us from predators.  

Elizabeth, NY, NY (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:14 PM)

I enjoyed your newscasting on Jimmy Video Vigilantes working his route,I suggest if we viewers could have more of him....Marc

Marc de Leon (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 1:48 AM)

CHRIS HANSEN,I THINK YOUR REPORTS ON "THESE SEXUAL PERVERTS" IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY! IT AMAZES ME,THAT THE SAME PERVERTED MORONS WHO HAVE SEEN THE SHOW, CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING. GOD BLESS YOU MR. HANSEN,WE CAN USE ALOT MORE REPORTERS LIKE YOU!!!! KEEP UP THE "GREAT" WORK!

ROBB PALAU, BRONX, N.Y. (Sent Saturday, July 05, 2008 12:27 AM)

Because this is the most recent entry from Chris Hansen I'm leaving my comment here. Here's an idea for another predator investigation. Pick a rural home with one way in or out, a few miles to the nearest highway. Since most predators are now familiar with Dateline and expect to be arrested outside, have the cops at the beginning of the neighborhood on the way out with a bogusly low speed limit before the trap site so a predator actually thinks they're getting away and a traffic stop for speeding is unrelated. This also clears vehicles from the target house. I still think the predator investigations should continue since internet predators are still out there despite Dateline's reputation for being there after four years and about 300 predators busted. After four years it's not entrapment since it is well known anybody stupid enough to solicit a child online should know Dateline might be there. Even after all this time Dateline can set up anywhere and will not break their record for the fewest predators to show up.

Mark, FL (Sent Sunday, July 13, 2008 3:23 AM)

What has happened to this person since?

John Doe, Seatlle Wash. (Sent Monday, July 14, 2008 8:34 PM)

i have seen your shows and i like its great your doing this. i have teenagers myself and they get on the net, i worry bout them all the time when they are on. my question is have you done any with females that are trying to get little kids.

kathy davenport, iowa (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 3:27 PM)



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