A Seattle contractor has been sentenced to three months in jail and fined $10,000 for breaking prevailing wage laws and abusing employees by reporting them to immigration when they asked to be correctly paid. The contractor, Dathan Williams, had landed more than $1.1 million in contracts from the government before an investigation, which included the training of an undercover police officer as a drywall installer, took him down. The investigation was part of a broader effort that followed complaints by local unions to the Kings County Prosecutor’s Office. Williams was found to be one of the most egregious offenders. Williams paid workers a fraction of the prevailing wage required to win the government contracts, which allowed him to underbid his competitors. As part of his scheme he routinely hired undocumented immigrants who were easily exploitable. Two of his employees were even deported.
The investigation was part of a broader effort that followed complaints by local unions to the Kings County Prosecutor’s Office. Williams was found to be one of the most egregious offenders.
Williams paid workers a fraction of the prevailing wage required to win the government contracts, which allowed him to underbid his competitors. As part of his scheme he routinely hired undocumented immigrants who were easily exploitable. Two of his employees were even deported.