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Electrical Company Owners Convicted of Stiffing Workers Out of $273K

By Nicholas Rizzi | September 5, 2014 1:19pm
 Raymond D'Auria and Ronald Bartiromo pleaded guilty to underpaying workers and were ordered to pay $273,943.66 in restitution.
Raymond D'Auria and Ronald Bartiromo pleaded guilty to underpaying workers and were ordered to pay $273,943.66 in restitution.
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Attorney General's Office

STATEN ISLAND — Two electrical contractors pleaded guilty on Thursday to underpaying workers by more than $250,000 on two city projects, the attorney general said.

Ronald Bartiromo and Raymond D'Auria, owners of R3 Electrical Inc. in Port Richmond, stiffed electricians who worked on projects for CUNY and NYCHA out of wages that are legally required, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said.

“Mr. Bartiromo, Mr. D’Auria and R3 Electrical, Inc. are being held accountable for stealing wages from workers who did electrical work on several public works projects throughout New York City,” Schneiderman said in a statement.

“My office will continue to take strong action, including filing criminal charges, against employers who violate New York’s labor laws, steal taxpayer dollars and violate the public trust.”

Under their plea deal, Bartiromo and R3 Electrical agreed to pay back $273,943.66 in restitution to the underpaid workers and the company cannot work on public projects for five years, Schneiderman said.

While working on the renovation of five science labs in CUNY colleges and a New York Power Authority project at the Rutger Houses in the Lower East Side, Bartiromo, with the help of project manager D'Auria, paid workers an hourly wage a fraction of what they were required by law, Schneiderman said.

To avoid getting caught, Bartiromo filed false payroll reports that showed he paid the workers the proper wages, Schneiderman said.

Bartiromo pleaded guilty to failing to pay the prevailing wage and was sentenced to 5 years probation at Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday, Schneiderman said.

Raymond D'Auria pleaded guilty to failing to pay the prevailing wage, Schneiderman said.