Investigation Ongoing: KEP Workers Urged to Contact D.A.’s Worker Protection Unit at (646) 712-0298

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the indictment of KENDIS PAUL, 45, and his company KEP CONSTRUCTION LLC for stealing approximately $67,000 from 10 former KEP employees who were working on the Upper West Side between September 2023 and February 2024. PAUL and KEP CONSTRUCTION LLC are charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. [1]

“As alleged, Kendis Paul stole thousands of dollars in wages from employees who dedicated hours of labor to a construction project. The victims repeatedly asked the defendant for their wages, yet, we allege, they were never made whole,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Workers deserve to be fairly compensated for their labor, and our Office will continue to prosecute those who take advantage of their employees. This is an ongoing investigation – I urge any other KEP employees who have been exploited to contact our Office at (646) 712-0298.”

 New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Cheating your own workers out of their hard-earned pay is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I am proud of the New York State Department of Labor’s continued partnership with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to protect hardworking New Yorkers from abuse. Together, we are dedicated to stamping out worker exploitation in all its forms.” 

According to court documents and statements made on the record, PAUL, the owner of KEP Construction LLC, was hired as a subcontractor on several construction sites, including 270 West 96th Street, a 23-story high-rise building.

PAUL hired 10 employees to do drywall plaster work at these jobsites. These employees were non-native English speakers and recent immigrants.

Between September 13, 2023, and February 23, 2024, PAUL gave these employees paychecks that later bounced, refused to pay them overtime, and, in some instances, failed to pay their wages altogether, despite the fact that he was paid more than $1.3 million from the general contractor.

These employees are owed wages ranging from $2,600 to $11,000, totaling approximately $67,275.

The employees sent repeated texts to PAUL asking for their wages. PAUL said he would keep the employees updated and pay them, but he failed to do so.

 

Manhattan D.A.’s Worker Protection Unit

In February 2023, District Attorney Bragg launched the Office’s first Worker Protection Unit to investigate and prosecute wage theft and other forms of worker exploitation across Manhattan. The Unit pursues criminal charges against individuals and corporations that jeopardize their workers’ safety and steal their wages. The Unit also enforces workplace safety labor laws, incorporating the work of the Office’s Construction Fraud Task Force, and pursues criminal charges when an employer creates dangerous or deadly work environments.

Building on the Office’s leadership in prosecuting wage theft in the construction and real estate development industries, the Worker Protection Unit expanded the Office’s focus to include other industries with high rates of worker exploitation.

To date, the Office’s Worker Protection Unit has brought 8 prosecutions and recovered and distributed over $1.3 million in wages stolen from more than four dozen workers.

Assistant D.A. Rachana Pathak (Chief of the Worker Protection Unit) is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Judy Salwen (Principal Deputy Chief of the Rackets Bureau) and Executive Assistant D.A. Jodie Kane (Chief of the Investigation Division). Danielle Corbett (Coordinator of the Worker Protection Unit), Lilah Hixson (Paralegal), Investigator Haley Fitzpatrick, Sergeant Genesis Cornielle, under the supervision of Supervising Rackets Investigator Patrick O’Brien and Assistant Chief of the Investigation Bureau Jonathan Reid, are providing valuable assistance in this case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the Department of Labor for its assistance. 

Defendant Information:

KENDIS PAUL

Bronx, NY

KEP CONSTRUCTION LLC

Charged:

• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, an E felony, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.