Wage theft in Manhattan's construction scene has met a reckoning as Raul Gutierrez-Salas, 53, a manager with Aragon Tile General Repairs, faces repercussions for denying rightful earnings to four hired workers, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., confirmed with a guilty plea from Gutierrez-Salas encompassing full restitution of $6,700. He pled guilty to one count of Petit Larceny, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
Within the realms of 880 5th Avenue and 7 West 36th Street, these subcontracted workers toiled, expecting just compensation, instead found themselves stripped of income sums of $800, $1,200, $2,500 and $2,200, court documents and on-record statements reveal disdainful monetary withholdings by Gutierrez-Salas during January and February of 2024; the District Attorney's Office underscores the critical nature of fair wages amid a city squeezed by an affordability crisis. "Hard working New Yorkers deserve the wages they earn, and in the midst of an affordability crisis, every dollar counts," District Attorney Bragg stated in Manhattan District Attorney's Office press release.
This case, prosecuted by Assistant D.A. James Clarke under the guidance of several senior legal figures — including Assistant D.A.s Rachana Pathak and Christopher Beard, along with the investigative support of Investigator May Dempsey and Paralegal Lilah Hixson — represents a concerted effort by the Manhattan D.A.’s Worker Protection Unit in safeguarding labor rights and pursuing justice for exploited workers. As part of the resolution, Gutierrez-Salas' admission to the charges against him was essential in securing the plea that mandated immediate restitution to the affected individuals.
For those facing similar plights, such as wage theft or unsafe work environments, the District Attorney's office has laid out a clear path for aid; a message remains poignant from Bragg to city workers, encapsulating a promise of protective oversight and enforcement: "If your wages are being stolen by your employer, or if you are being forced to work in unsafe conditions, our Worker Protection Unit is here to help: call or message us at (646) 712-0298," a clarion call for justice within reach of anyone in need according the Manhattan District Attorney's Office statement.
