El Paso contractor jailed for wage theft, failing to pay workers and subcontractors

The El Paso County Attorney's Office has prosecuted a contractor on multiple criminal charges after he was accused of failing to pay workers and subcontractors for construction work.

Joseph Arroyos pled guilty on October 7 to eight criminal counts, including felony and misdemeanor charges of Theft of Service and Theft of Property.

He was sentenced to five years in the Texas Department of Corrections.

The total financial impact of his offenses amounts to $105,500.30, with $15,400 specifically related to wage theft cases.

Arroyos was convicted of hiring subcontractors to complete construction projects, receiving full payment from property owners, and then failing to compensate the workers for their labor.

These cases are a crucial step in our efforts to combat wage theft in El Paso," said El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez. "We have launched a new program to aggressively prosecute wage theft cases, holding unscrupulous employers accountable for failing to pay workers. We will continue to fight for the rights of employees and subcontractors in our community.

In one of the cases, Arroyos subcontracted two men to build a concrete wall around a cemetery, but despite being paid in full by the client, he failed to pay the subcontractors for their labor and materials, according to the county attorney's office.

Other cases involved a man, who completed a tile installation project, another man who worked on a roofing project, and another man who built a cinderblock wall.

In each instance, Arroyos was paid by the property owners but refused to pay the workers, leaving them with unpaid expenses.

"These hard-working individuals were cheated out of their rightful earnings by someone who profited from their labor," said Sanchez. "Wage theft is a serious offense that affects the livelihoods of working families. Our office will continue to hold employers accountable for taking advantage of workers in our community," Sanchez concluded.

The El Paso County Attorney's Office encourages anyone who believes they have been a victim of wage theft, or who has information about such cases, to contact the office or law enforcement authorities for assistance.

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