The owner of a former barbecue restaurant on the Upper West Side has been indicted for wage theft, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Thursday.
Patrick Griffin, 71, was indicted for allegedly stealing at least $8,000 in wages from five of his employees, according to the DA’s office.
Au Jus, the Oklahoma-style barbecue chain, had three New York City locations, including at 2621 Broadway, on the corner of West 99th Street. All three are now closed.
“As alleged, Patrick Griffin, owner of the popular Au Jus restaurant, took advantage of his workers and stole their hard-earned wages while they provided physically demanding labor,” Bragg said in a news release. “Griffin was allegedly vacationing in Europe while his employees were begging him for their money that they earned and need to support their families.”
