FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Squirrel Hill Restaurant, Owner Plead Guilty to Unfair Labor Practices
PITTSBURGH – The owner of Sun Penang, Inc., a Pittsburgh restaurant, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges of falsifying, concealing, or covering up by trick, scheme, or device a material fact, and on behalf of the business ofwillfully violating the Fair Labor Standard Act, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
Hsiao Yen Wu, a/k/a Sophia Wu, age 40, of Pittsburgh, Pa and Sun Penang, Inc., located at 5829 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 pleaded guilty to three counts before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that after Sun Penang had agreed to pay back wage payments, Wu represented that Sun Penang had issued all back wage payments checks and provided faxed copies of these checks to the Department of Labor. However, Wu knew that the employees were not paid back wage payments because these employees were required either to deposit the checks into Wu's personal bank account or to work without pay until Sun Penang recouped the wages. Sun Penang failed to pay minimum wages and overtime pay to their employees from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2017 at 10 a.m.
With respect to Wu, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. With respect to Sun Penang, the law provides for a maximum fine of $20,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Wu and Sun Penang, Inc.
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