$3M Recovered From Stolen Pandemic Wages In Empire State: Gov

NEW YORK — A new hotline was launched Tuesday for workers to recoup lost wages, according to the Governor’s Office, which is also developing an online tool and tracking tool for people to report wage theft.

That same day, the state’s Wage Theft Task Force said it recovered $3 million in restitution from August 2021 to June 2022 for 265 workers who had their paychecks diminished throughout the pandemic in Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Schenectady and Westchester counties, reported Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office.

To date, since the inception of the Wage Theft Task Force, $11 million has been recovered in stolen wages since 2017, Avi Small, the governor's spokesman told Patch.

“So today, we continue an extraordinary journey to make sure that we're cracking down on wage theft,” said Hochul in a prepared statement. “ My goal every single day is to make sure that we make New York State the best place to live, to work, to raise families and to hold down a good union job. And make sure that we lift up the men and women who call New York home.”

Together with the state Department of Labor, the state Attorney General and several district attorneys, the WTTF also secured a civil agreement with Lintech Electric and convictions of Piyamas Dimasi (Thai and Karma bistros); Paul Hurley (Hurley Steakhouse and Pub); Alan James (APJ Restoration); and Paul Gilistro (Goldstar Installation).

Funds will also be recovered from Tri-State Construction of NY Corp.; Linda Cunegin (Tri-county Home Nursing Services); Jagdep Deol (Laser Electrical Contracting); and Joseph Fregosi (Fregosi Landscaping), which were convicted; as well as from Designcore Ltd.’s plea deal.

Unscrupulous employers and contractors are on notice, said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement.

“Not only is wage theft a pervasive problem, but it also disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable members of our community and negatively impacts our economy,” Katz said in a statement. “That is why I created the Housing & Worker Protection Bureau upon taking office, to make sure that employees (and homeowners) are protected from illegal actions.”

Workers deserve every dollar they’re owed, said Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez.

“Wage theft cases are a top priority for my dedicated Labor Fraud Unit,” Gonzalez said in a statement.

DA Anne Donnelly said in a statement that these types of investigations often uncover that employers who cheat their workers are engaged in other criminal activities.

“It starts with stealing wages, then falsifying payroll records, tax returns, unemployment insurance claims and failing to have the proper amount of workers' compensation insurance,” Donnelly said. My office is committed to ensuring that employers who line their pockets with the hard-earned wages of their employees are held accountable.”

Ray Tierney, the district attorney for Suffolk County said he was dedicated to fighting to protect hard working citizens from wage theft in a statement.

“I strongly believe that enhancing community vigilance and government responsiveness to this issue is critical, and I applaud this coordinated effort to bring those who steal from our workers to justice,” said Tierney.

The Wage Theft Hotline number is (833) 910-4378.