A former cop who now owns a Bronx bakery was one of two employers busted for forcing his staff to work long days for less than minimum wage and no overtime, officials announced today.
Along with Walter Galiano, 57, owner of Arthur Avenue Bakery, authorities also arrested the owner of two Bronx gas stations and a car wash for the same crime.
Galiano, 57, an NYPD officer for 10 years before retiring nearly 25 years ago, faces more than 40 criminal counts for allegedly withholding more than $350,000 from 25 workers, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
Galiano allegedly failed to pay the minimum wage to at least 25 workers while forcing them to work up to 80 hours a week with no overtime pay, officials said.
He also allegedly tried to cover up the illegal treatment of his workers through a scheme of tax fraud and business-record manipulation, officials said.
During the probe, Galiano allegedly intimidated workers into withdrawing statements they had made to state officials by implying he had a handgun, State Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith said at a news conference at Bronx Supreme Court.
“There were at least suggestions of possible physical violence that would happen,” she said.
A former bakery worker, who refused to give his name for fear of retribution, called Galiano a “very aggressive man.”
“I’m glad he’s under arrest,” he told The Post. “A person like that you don’t know how he’s going to react.”
Galiano is also accused of illegally failing to pay wages, failing to pay into the state’s already cash-strapped unemployment insurance fund, failing to file either personal or corporate taxes and filing false documents with the state to cover up his scheme, authorities said.
“My office is committed to bringing to justice employers who think they are somehow above the law,” said State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Alex Moreno, 35, who owns the Getty Gas Station and Car Wash on Edward Grant Highway and another Getty station on Jerome Avenue, is accused of taking more than $225,000 from his workers, authorities said.
Moreno is charged with failing to pay wages, failing to pay into the state’s unemployment system, and failing to cover workers with Workers’ Compensation insurance, officials said.
Moreno is accused with allegedly paying his workers as little as $4 an hour for 12-hour shifts, also with no overtime, authorities said.
“The treatment of workers and the conduct of these employers throughout the investigation was nothing short of despicable,” Smith said.