A New York City construction company, KEP Construction, and its owner, Kendis Paul, face charges of wage theft for withholding $67,000 in wages from ten immigrant workers, according to an indictment announced Thursday.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the alleged actions, saying, "These cases come down to greed. They are preying on those who they don't think will come forward."

Prosecutors revealed that workers sent desperate text messages pleading for their wages. One message read, "I'm out of food." Another stated, "I haven't been able to pay my rent."

The indictment details that the workers were hired for drywall plaster work on a 23-story building on West 96th Street between September 2023 and February 2024. Despite being paid over $1.3 million by the general contractor, Paul allegedly issued checks that bounced, failed to pay overtime, and, in some cases, withheld wages entirely.

Paul has pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.