Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a Bergen County construction company payroll manager was accused of demanding cash kickbacks from workers and failing to pay them for several worked hours. The charging documents claim that it was done to avoid prevailing wage rules on public works projects.
What Are The Criminal Offences Of The Construction Company Payroll Manager?
Here are the criminal offenses of UniMak, LLC officer and payroll manager, the 44-year-old Montvale resident, Toni Jovanoski, who was charged by complaint-summons on March 2, 2021:
- Misconduct by a Corporate Official (3rd degree)
- Representation, False Contract Payment Claims, for a Government Contract; Prevailing Wage Violations (3rd degree)
Some Important Updates Of UniMak
- UniMak, LLC implemented a non-prosecution agreement with the Attorney General's Office on March 1, 2021. UniMak agreed to be severally and jointly liable with Toni Jovanoski to pay full restitution of $1,082,041 to the seven victims.
- UniMak and its owners, principals, and directors are also prohibited from getting government construction contracts with the State of N.J. or any of its administrative or political subdivisions for three years.
- UniMak, through its counsel, should report quarterly to the Division of Criminal Justice for three years regarding its oversight of subcontractor compliance and prevailing wage compliance.
Who Investigated Construction Company Payroll Manager's Case?
The non-prosecution agreement and criminal charges are the results of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General-Newark Field Office, Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, Division of Taxation's Office of Criminal Investigation, and the N.J. Department of Treasury.
The investigation was conducted due to a criminal referral by the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development, who also provided valuable assistance in the inquiry. Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal thanked the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development for their valuable assistance and referral.
Attorney General Grewal also thanked the Special Agents of the U.S. DOL Office of Inspector General-Newark Field Office and Auditor Kerry Czymek of N.J. Division of Taxation's Office of the Criminal Investigation for their work in the inquiry. "We are committed to using all the available tools, including the criminal prosecutions, to protect our employees and the integrity of our public contracts," said Attorney General Grewal.
Construction Company Payroll Manager Admits His Role in $1M Payroll Scam
Construction company payroll manager Toni Jovanoski admitted his role in a scheme that deprived workers of more than $1 million in wages. He pleaded guilty in state Superior Court on Thursday to corporate official misconduct and violating prevailing wage rules on the public works projects. Toni Jovanoski was scheduled for sentencing on June 4.
For more than five years, from January 2013 to February 2018, Toni Jovanoski has been demanding cash kickbacks from the workers of UniMak by inserting a note in their paychecks describing how much money the workers were required to give him. The cash kickbacks have lowered the workers' pay to below the prevailing wage rates as required by the law.
Conclusion
Construction company payroll manager Toni Jovanoski did not pay workers for overtime hours and regular hours. According to his plea agreement, the state would recommend that Toni Jovanoski serve a five-year probation term. He will also pay more than $23,000 in back taxes. The construction company repays wages of more than $1M to seven workers deprived of wages. Jovanoski is partially responsible for these payments.
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