29/04/2021
Biden called on to protect immigrant wage theft whistleblowers | Nevada Current
Between 2010 and 2020, the DOL recovered more than $19 million in back wages from more than
1,600 employers in Nevada.
Some experts say the penalties and fines assessed by regulators for wage theft are factored into
the cost of doing business. They say criminal penalties may be more valuable in deterring the
theft.
But criminal prosecutions, which may be recommended by the state labor commissioner, are nonexistent.
A “handful of cases” have been referred by the Nevada Labor Commissioner to Clark County
District Attorney “for their review”, Department of Business and Industry spokeswoman Teri
Williams said last year.
“We’re not aware of any criminal prosecutions of NRS 608 in recent history,” Williams said last
year.
Wolfson and Attorney General Aaron Ford did not respond to questions about wage theft
prosecutions.
Segerblom said he’s unaware of wage theft prosecutions, as is Stanley.
“I believe when you steal an individual’s wages, what’s the difference between that and putting a
gun to their head?” asks Stanley. “You’re taking from their family. It’s egregious. I robbed you of
wages you legitimately earn. It’s theft and we prosecute thieves in this society.”
Wage theft is said to burden taxpayers because workers rely on social services to offset the pay
stolen by their employer.
The cost to taxpayers of providing Medicaid to Unforgettable Coatings’ eligible employees and
family members in Nevada was $93,703 in fiscal year 2018, $56,272 in 2019, and $24,011 in
2020, according to annual reports required by the Legislature.
“Just because they are a business owner doesn’t relieve them of the damage they do to this
community when they steal people’s wages,” Stanley said.
Dana Gentry
Senior Reporter | Dana Gentry is a native Las Vegan and award-winning investigative journalist. She is a graduate of
Bishop Gorman High School and holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Gentry began her career in broadcasting as an intern at Channel 8, KLAS-TV. She later became a reporter at Channel 8,
working with Las Vegas TV news legends Bob Stoldal and the late Ned Day. Gentry left her reporting job in 1985 to focus
on motherhood. She returned to TV news in 2001 to launch "Face to Face with Jon Ralston" and the weekly business
programs In Business Las Vegas and Vegas Inc, which she co-anchored with Jeff Gillan. Dana has four adult children, a
grandson, three dogs, three cats and a cockatoo named Casper.
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