The scandal-scarred founder of fashion label Guess has reportedly change into the goal of an FBI probe — which has contacted greater than 100 former and current models –involving allegations of sexual misconduct, in keeping with Mediaite.
Paul Marciano faces the wide-ranging investigation over his alleged treatment of ladies who modeled or aspired to model for Guess, sources told the outlet on Thursday.
Marciano paid out greater than $1 million in settlements previously 12 months to 2 women, one who accused him of rape and one other of sexual harassment, in keeping with the corporate’s filings with the SEC.
Marciano strongly denied sexual misconduct in prior reports and didn’t concede to any wrongdoing in those settlements.
He has also been accused of heinous attacks by a slew of ladies over the past twenty years — including by supermodel Kate Upton, who claimed he forcibly groped her, and a Guess model who alleged that he raped her with no condom.
One person told Mediaite: “The FBI conducted an interview with me at my house and I used to be shocked to listen to how many individuals they’d contacted, who all told an identical story.”
The person said that an FBI special agent gave them an update a month after the interview.
![The FBI has launched an investigation into alleged](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000031070100.jpg?w=1024)
“Their investigation had grown in scale as they informed me they’d contacted over 100 former and current models,” the source told Mediate.
The Post has reached out to Guess and Marciano for comment.
A spokesperson for Marciano told Mediaite that the Guess co-founder was unaware of any investigation by the FBI.
“Mr. Marciano built Guess from the inspiration and has devoted his life to the Company and the people working there,” Eric Rose told the outlet.
The Post has sought comment from the FBI.
“In line with DOJ standard practice, the FBI neither confirms nor denies the existence of an investigation,” a Department of Justice spokesperson told Mediaite.
“We have now no further comment.”
![In 2018, supermodel Kate Upton accused Marciano of forcible groping, sexual harassment and misconduct when she worked for the Guess brand as a model. Marciano has denied the allegations.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000031072488-1.jpg?w=1024)
Marciano, who founded Guess along with his brothers in 1981, was forced to step down as executive chairman in 2018 after Upton and other models accused him of harassment and other crimes — but returned to the corporate’s board of directors last 12 months.
Upton, the wife of star pitcher Justin Verlander, accused Marciano of forcibly groping, sexual harassment and misconduct when she worked for the Guess brand as a model.
Upton said she was fired after she resisted his advances.
Marciano denied her allegations.
He resigned in 2018 following an internal investigation into the allegations of misconduct, though he didn’t admit wrongdoing.
Last 12 months, Marciano returned to the corporate’s board of directors, defying attempts to oust him.
![Marciano was reportedly being probed by the feds over alleged misconduct towards women who either modeled for his brand or were aspiring to be models.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000031070085.jpg?w=1024)
On the time, Guess said the corporate reached settlements with five individuals totaling $500,000.
Last 12 months, Marciano reached a $1 million settlement with two former Guess models — Amanda Rodriguez and Gwen Van Meir — who identified themselves in court documents.
Rodriguez alleged that Marciano raped her at a piece meeting held in his apartment, in keeping with court documents.
Van Meir accused Marciano of sexually harassing her on set, the court documents said.
Within the settlement agreement, Marciano denied any wrongdoing.
In 2021, an aspiring model filed suit alleging Marciano raped her with no condom during a 2013 meeting.
![Amanda Rodriguez, a former Guess model, alleged that Marciano raped her at a work meeting held in his apartment.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000031072565.jpg?w=1024)
![Gwen Van Meir (seen right with Kara Del Toro) accused Marciano of sexually harassing her on set.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000031072541.jpg?w=681)
The model, “Jane Doe 3,” filed suit against Marciano in California state court. The case is pending.
One other woman who worked for Marciano within the Nineteen Eighties alleged to police that he forced her to perform oral sex when he offered her a ride home from work.
She filed a police report with the Beverly Hills Police Department in February 2022, in keeping with The Day by day Beast.
The Post has sought comment from the Beverly Hills Police Department regarding the status of its probe.
Marciano has not commented publicly the ladies’s allegations.