From left, Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz and Councilmember Tyler Maxwell speak at a city hall news conference on Monday, May 12, 2025. Photo by Frank Lopez

Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz and Councilmember Tyler Maxwell announced on Monday the City’s first legal action for alleged wage theft against Pinnacle Hospitality and Development, CEO Lakhwinder Singh Brar and contractor Juan Moreno. 

The complaint was brought forward by nine construction workers for the Holiday Inn Express & Suites near Highway 99 and Herndon Avenue in Fresno. The workers allege they were the victims of multiple instances of wage theft from April 2023 through September 2024.

Without assessing penalties for the alleged violations, Janz estimated a total wage theft amount of about $58,000.

Janz said that workers were paid as little as $50 per day for 8-12 hours of work.

The complaint described a pattern of nonpayment, below minimum wage compensation, unpaid overtime, unauthorized paycheck deductions and illegal piece-rate pay schemes.

A message seeking comment from Pinnacle Hospitality and Development was not returned Monday afternoon.

Assembly Bill 594 went into effect last year authorizing a public prosecutor to initiate civil or criminal action for a violation of specified provisions of the Labor Code, or to enforce those provisions independently, until Jan. 1, 2029.

According to a news release from Janz’s office, California has more than $330 million in unpaid wage claims reported in 2021 alone.

Maxwell said that when he and Janz announced a wage theft resolution last January, he was told by some business owners that if he was serious about prosecuting those in violation, they would do what they could to end his political career.

“Wage theft is in fact occurring at an alarming rate in this community,” Maxwell said. “These threats aren’t deterring me or the city from doing right for our working people.

Businesses committing wage theft are undercutting businesses paying fair wages, he said.

“For businesses committing wage theft my message for you has not changed—we will find out about you, will pursue you, and we will bring you to justice,” Maxwell said.

The complaint contains 11 counts of wage theft against state labor code and business and professional codes.

Between August 2024 and January 2025, the city attorney’s office received nine complaints pertaining to the alleged wage theft for the construction work performed at Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

Maxwell said the city received a $720,000 grant from the state for the wage protection program.

Janz said they have identified at least nine victims.

Workers were not paid overtime, and were sometimes not allowed breaks, Janz said.

According to the complaint, Moreno would charge some workers for food and gas without telling them and taking it out of their paychecks.

Janz said there were no written contracts — all agreements were made orally, and all payments made in cash.

Undocumented workers may bring forward a complaint and by guarantee, that information will not be used against them or turned over to the Federal government, Janz said.

Janz encourages anyone experiencing wage theft to report it.

“Please make sure that you keep all of your documents, all of your communications with your employers, keep your case notes if they exist. Any information you pertain will be helpful to the investigation,” Janz said.

Janz said the city is investigating about 12 cases in various industries. He noted that by state law the city is not allowed to investigate agriculture cases.

To report wage theft to the City of Fresno’s Wage Protection program call (559) 621-7590 or visit www.fresno.gov/wagetheft.