A New Rochelle restaurant owner has been sentenced to probation for not paying over $23,000 to his employees, according to Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah.

Paul Hurley, 57, owner of the Hurley’s Steakhouse and Pub pleaded guilty in December to a misdemeanor charge of failure to pay wages. He was accused of not paying eight workers he

employed as cooks, dishwashers, food runners, kitchen runners and waiters between October 2018 and June 2019.

In addition to being ordered to pay full restitution to the employees, Hurley received three years’ probation.

"Low-wage workers are the invisible labor force and more vulnerable to wage theft. Not paying these workers, who are already earning low wages, is an egregious exploitation of hardworking people and it is a crime," DA Rocah said. "The dedicated attorneys and investigators in my office are committed to cracking down on bad actors who deny workers their pay, and protecting workers in Westchester County."