CEO of NYC House Cleaning Company admits to stealing wages from employees

A New York-based home cleaning company and its CEO pleaded guilty to stealing wages from employees, according to prosecutors.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said 37-year-old MPStar Pros CEO Christian Perez of Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was given a conditional release. His cleaning company, MPStar Pros, also pleaded guilty to a felony, fraud scheme and, as part of the guilty plea, must pay full damages to workers.

Between 2020 and 2022, both deducted more than $54,000 from employees, Katz said. In addition, MPStar professionals also have to pay $10,000. This amount will be held in escrow with the Queens District Attorney’s Office in case additional victims are identified.

As part of the deal, they must fully compensate the damage to 23 victims.

According to the allegations, MPStar Pros advertised through social networking sites for people to clean residential apartments, including short-term apartment rental operators. Many of those affected have been asked to work in the midst of the COVID pandemic. However, when the workers completed their work, the company did not pay them their wages.

“At the height of the pandemic, these workers risked their lives to support their families, only to fall victim to a simple scam,” Katza said. An honest day’s work deserves an honest day’s pay, and we made sure these workers were the same.”

Meanwhile, Roberta Reardon, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor, said that “any employer who steals from their employees will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in New York State.”