New Rochelle Contractor Re-Arrested In $50K Felony Wage Theft Case

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A Westchester contractor is facing new charges related to wage theft involving day laborers.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced on Tuesday that 40-year-old Artemio Fuerte, a New Rochelle contractor, was re-arrested and charged with new offenses for allegedly stealing over $50,000 in wages from his workers.

He was arraigned Tuesday morning in New Rochelle City Court on felony second-degree grand larceny, felony first-degree scheme to defraud, and five misdemeanor counts of failure to pay wages when due under labor law.

The judge released Fuerte on his own recognizance, and he is due back in court on March 12.

SEE ALSO: New Rochelle Contractor Stole $30K In Wages From Day Laborers

"As my office has alleged in a felony complaint, these hard-working employees were taken advantage of by the defendant to the tune of over $50,000," Cacace said. "Deliberately withholding wages from your employees is not a bookkeeping trick, it is a crime. I stand with the labor community in demanding that all workers in Westchester be paid fairly, in accordance with the Labor Law. With today's charges, we are making good on that demand."

Fuerte is the owner/operator of Fuerte Construction Services LLC. According to the complaint, between September 2022 and October 2025, Fuerte allegedly stole about $51,720 in wages from five of his employees by not paying them the amounts owed.

One worker performed demolition, painting, and carpentry for Fuerte's company between February 2024 and September 2024, at a set rate of $900 per week. During this period, Fuerte failed to pay the employee at all for much of his labor or paid the employee using bounced checks. According to the complaint, based on the statutory minimum wage and the amount of unpaid labor performed by the employee, Fuerte owes the employee around $19,583.

Another worker worked for Fuerte performing similar services between September 2022 and October 2025. According to the complaint, this employee's daily rate was $160. However, Fuerte allegedly failed to pay this employee at all or failed to pay him the full amount owed. According to the complaint, based on the statutory minimum wage and the amount of unpaid or underpaid labor performed by this employee, Fuerte owes him around $8,400.

The investigation was conducted by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office in collaboration with the New York State Department of Labor.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant DA Emily-Rowe Smith, of the Economic Crimes Bureau, with assistance from Michael Frenza, Forensic Accountant.