Criminal Prosecution, Employer Liability Issues, Criminal Penalties

DOJ Enforcing Criminal Penalties When Employers Fail to Comply

Jackson Walker on 3/3/2025

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a memo indicating a significant policy shift to prioritize immigration enforcement and expand the use of criminal statutes to address illegal immigration. The DOJ will support the...more

Top 5 Takeaways for Employers as Attorney General Announces Aggressive Immigration Stance

Fisher Phillips on 2/27/2025

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a significant shift in immigration enforcement policy under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership, prioritizing aggressive prosecution of immigration-related violations –...more

Wage & Hour Criminality: Wage Theft Now Constitutes Larceny In New York

BakerHostetler on 9/13/2023

Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation amending the New York Penal Law in order to allow prosecutors to seek stronger criminal penalties against employers who steal wages from workers. Specifically, employers who...more

California Employers Face Criminal Liability for Intentional Unpaid Wages Under Newly Signed Law

Fisher Phillips on 9/28/2021

California Governor Newsom signed into law yesterday a bill which makes intentional “wage theft” by employers a form of grand theft and thus a felony in the state of California. AB 1003 obviously ups the ante for employers...more

OSHA Notes Increase in Criminal Prosecutions

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP on 8/13/2021

Last month, a Colorado business owner was sentenced to 10 months in prison following the death of one of his workers in a trenching accident. The deceased employee had not been trained in appropriate trenching techniques, and...more

Criminal Charges For OSHA Violations? State Prosecutors Are Taking Increased Interest

Fisher Phillips on 9/9/2019

Most employers are aware that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration can issue monetary penalties for health and safety violations occurring in the workplace. Many employers also know that in particular...more

New Colorado Law Will Soon Criminalize Wage Violations

Fisher Phillips on 5/20/2019

Under a new law signed by Governor Jared Polis on May 16th, 2019, Colorado employers will soon face potential criminal charges for failure to pay wages. Once the new law takes effect on January 1, 2020, you will need to ramp...more

Criminal Prosecution › Employer Liability Issues › Criminal Penalties