Astoria contractor arraigned for failure to pay workers

A 66-year-old contractor who operates on Steinway Street in Astoria was arraigned last Thursday on charges of allegedly failing to pay nine workers more than $33,000 in wages for work they performed at various sites in Queens between 2003 and 2005, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

Roberto Perez of Woodbury was charged with allegedly violating the state's labor law by failing to pay the workers for manual labor at sites throughout the borough between January 2003 and June 2005, Brown said. Perez is the president and owner of Park Construction Management at 18-49 Steinway St. in Astoria, the DA said.
"The victims, who are undocumented residents, were trying to earn an honest living and send money back to their families in their native countries," Brown said. "The defendant assumed, incorrectly, that his alleged greed would go undetected because the victims would be fearful of possible deportation and not complain to authorities."
If convicted, Perez could face a $1,000 fine and a year in jail, the DA said.