Cash Pay Schemes Spreading

Florida is not the only state seeing check cashers and contractors conspiring to pay workers off-the-books. A bar owner in the Bronx and a pawn shop owner in New Jersey were arrested after a Port Authority and Manhattan DA investigation into contractors underreporting payroll. Contractors’ workers were paid in cash to evade paying taxes and workers’ compensation premiums. The defendants are accused of cashing almost $17 million in checks for 19 businesses from 2012 to 2014.

According to court papers, a contractor brought a $149,250 check to the bar and received $141,787. The check was then brought to the pawn shop where it was deposited for $147,011 in cash which was brought back to the bar.