WHITE PLAINS, NY – The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office has achieved justice for eight workers who were denied over $31,500 in wages by Artemio Fuerte, a New Rochelle contractor and owner of Fuerte Construction LLC. Fuerte was convicted on eight misdemeanor counts of wage theft, marking a significant victory in the fight against labor exploitation.
Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah expressed her stance on the issue, stating, “Not paying workers for months on end is a crime and not a business model.” She emphasized the commitment to holding employers accountable for wage theft, applauding the new state law that elevates wage theft over $1,000 to a felony, aiding in combating this widespread issue.
Fuerte was sentenced today by Judge Eileen Songer-McCarthy in New Rochelle City Court to three years of probation and a $12,000 fine after pleading guilty. His plea on May 1 addressed six counts, with two additional counts added on June 7.
Prior to sentencing, Fuerte fulfilled the plea agreement terms by paying full restitution of $31,583 to the victims. The Economic Crimes Bureau initiated the investigation into Fuerte’s practices in 2022 after receiving multiple complaints about unpaid wages.
The prosecution was led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Emily Rowe-Smith, with forensic support from Michael Frenza. The DA’s office has acknowledged the assistance of local workers’ rights groups in aiding the victims and continues to encourage those affected by wage theft to come forward, regardless of their immigration status.
