USA: Lack of legislation in New York enables construction co. to continue to operate despite wage theft conviction after taking USD 31,500 from migrant employees
Summary
Date Reported: 16 Aug 2024
Location: United States of America
Companies
Fuerte Construction Services - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 4
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Wage Theft , Access to Justice & Legal ProtectionResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
Action taken: As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, the owner was sentenced to eight misdemeanour counts of wage theft. Fuerte was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay a $12,000 fine, and required to pay full restitution of $31,583 to eight of his victims before his sentencing. However, despite his conviction, he can continue operating his contracting business. In February 2023, Fuerte successfully registered his latest company, Fuerte Construction Services LLC, which also remains active. Journalists could not reach Fuerte for comment on this story.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 16 Aug 2024
Location: United States of America
Companies
Fuerte Construction Services - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 2
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Wage Theft , Access to Justice & Legal ProtectionResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
Action taken: As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, the owner was sentenced to eight misdemeanour counts of wage theft. Fuerte was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay a $12,000 fine, and required to pay full restitution of $31,583 to eight of his victims before his sentencing. However, despite his conviction, he can continue operating his contracting business. In February 2023, Fuerte successfully registered his latest company, Fuerte Construction Services LLC, which also remains active. Journalists could not reach Fuerte for comment on this story.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 16 Aug 2024
Location: United States of America
Companies
Fuerte Construction Services - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 2
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Construction , Gender not reported )Issues
Wage Theft , Access to Justice & Legal ProtectionResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
Action taken: As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, the owner was sentenced to eight misdemeanour counts of wage theft. Fuerte was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay a $12,000 fine, and required to pay full restitution of $31,583 to eight of his victims before his sentencing. However, despite his conviction, he can continue operating his contracting business. In February 2023, Fuerte successfully registered his latest company, Fuerte Construction Services LLC, which also remains active. Journalists could not reach Fuerte for comment on this story.
Source type: News outlet
Photo: zhaojiankang from Getty Images Pro, sourced from Canva
“Contractor Still Operates Despite Stealing Thousands in Wages From Immigrant Workers”
…Fuerte owned and operated Fuerte Construction LLC, a company that stole $31,500 from at least eight immigrant workers he employed between 2020 and 2023. As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, Fuerte was sentenced to eight misdemeanor counts of wage theft…
Fuerte was sentenced to three years probation, ordered to pay a $12,000 fine, and required to pay full restitution of $31,583 to eight of his victims before his sentencing. However, despite his conviction, he can continue operating his contracting business.
Fuerte Construction LLC, which was implicated in wage theft, was registered with the state in 2021 and is currently listed as active, according to the New York Department of State Division of Corporations. In February 2023, Fuerte successfully registered his latest company, Fuerte Construction Services LLC, which also remains active. ..
Fuerte could not be reached for comment on this story…
…although Fuerte has multiple arrests and convictions, the state law cannot prevent Fuerte from operating as a contractor…
A bill introduced by New York State Senator Jessica Ramos in 2023 would hope to end this practice…