The owner of a luxury clothing brand salon in the Garment District was indicted Wednesday for allegedly stealing some $54,000 in wages from her employees and forcing them to work sweatshop-like hours.
According to court documents, 44-year-old Andrea Marshall of Ridgewood, Queens, the owner of Salon 1884 on West 39th Street, was brought before a Manhattan judge on June 17 on grand larceny charges.
Marshall stands accused of setting demanding schedules for her seamstresses that required them to punch in and out on shifts lasting 12 to 17 hours, including overnight shifts. Court documents show that at least two of the workers toiled for more than 100 hours in a single week.
Prosecutors alleged that Marshall set her workers’ schedules at sewing machines she provided. Yet after they labored for long hours, according to the charges, she would refuse to pay them the money owed, instead making excuses for nonpayment. In some instances, she allegedly set up payment plans that she did not fulfill or offered them clothing instead of the monetary funds she had promised.
In other cases, other workers had secured small claims judgments against her for payment that she, nevertheless, did not fulfill, prosecutors said.
“As alleged, Andrea Marshall, the owner of Salon 1884, exploited and stole approximately $54,000 in wages from her employees while selling luxury garments. She preyed on the significant power imbalance of her employees who relied on the promised wages for housing and basic living expenses, feared retaliation, and lacked the financial resources to pursue legal recourse,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. “Hard-working New Yorkers deserve every dollar they earn. This is an ongoing investigation – please call or message our Worker Protection Unit at (646) 712-0298 if you may be a victim, regardless of your immigration status.”
According to Bragg’s office, Marshall’s employees would send her text messages begging her to pay them, seemingly taking advantage of an immigrant workforce.
“Good afternoon, miss. Please can you pay me something. I need to send it to Ecuador. It’s for my son. Please, I’m asking you. He’s sick,” one text read.
“Miss Andrea, please can you pay me half. I really need to send money to Ecuador for my children. I really need it, miss, please help me,” another read.
Statements made on the record also allege that the designer stiffed independent contractors, like hair stylists, and failed to pay her dues despite legal demands.
According to Marshall’s webpage, she has over a decade and a half of industry experience and uses environmentally conscious materials in her clothing line. She founded Salon 1884 in 2021.
“The wage theft case against Salon 1884 and Andrea Marshall is a powerful reminder that no one is above the law when it comes to protecting workers’ rights. Wage theft is a crime, plain and simple, and will not be tolerated in New York State. I applaud the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for bringing these charges to protect vulnerable workers, and for their continued partnership as we work to safeguard the livelihoods of all New Yorkers,” New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said.
Marshall’s charges also include scheme to defraud, effect of failure to secure compensation, and failure to pay wages.
