3 contractors charged with stealing over $60K from construction workers

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Attorney General Peter Neronha said Tuesday that three contractors were charged for stealing over $60,000 from construction workers.

The attorney general’s office said that 33-year-old Eduardo Benitez, 36-year-old Teresa Rojas, and 25-year-old Yuliana Gonzalez allegedly stole a total of $64,000 from 14 workers the construction and renovation of RISE Prep Mayoral Academy in Woonsocket in 2018 and 2019.

Benitez, who owns “Benitez Y Rojas Drywall,” “Empire Drywall,” “and New Generation Drywall,” is charged with three counts of unlawful appropriation of over $1,000, three counts of failure to pay wages, two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully appropriate money, and one count of providing a false document to a public official.

Rojas, who was affiliated with Empire Drywall, is charged with one count of unlawful appropriation of over $1,000, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully appropriate money, and one count of providing a false document to a public official.

Gonzalez, who was affiliated with New Generation Drywall, is charged with one count of unlawful appropriation of over $1,000, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully appropriate money, and one count of providing a false document to a public official.

Prosecutors say that the three didn’t pay the workers all of the money that they were owed. They were supposed to pay them $50 per hour but instead paid them in the $20-25 range.

““While we were able to fashion a felony prosecution in this case, the fact remains that wage theft under any circumstances must become a felony under Rhode Island law. Working men and women in Rhode Island deserve justice,” said Neronha.

The three are also accused of submitting false certified payroll documents to the state.