San Francisco Restaurant Owner Accused Of Labor Law Violations, Allegedly Threatening Workers
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The owner of two popular dim sum restaurants in San Francisco is being accused of violating federal labor laws, and threatening workers while withholding wages.
A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Hong Kong Lounge I & II's partial owner Ming Lian Zhou Wednesday for threatening his employees, and making false statements to a government agency about paying his employees overtime.
Zhou is accused of underpaying 48 employees by $90,000 according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
The indictment alleges that in 2013, the Department of Labor learned of Zhou's failure to pay his employees, and was required to provide the money directly to the DOL, so checks could be issued directly to employees. Zhou allegedly provided the money to the DOL, but then directed his employees to cash those checks, and give the money back to him.
Zhou allegedly reduced hours, changed employee schedules, and terminated employees who failed to comply with his kick back instructions.
Zhou appeared in court Wednesday for arraignment.
