Manhattan D.A. Secures $170K Restitution for Victims in Construction Wage Theft Case as George Cole Is Sentenced to Jail
July 2, 2025
By Bryce Winslow
In a significant action to combat wage theft, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced the sentencing and restitution of over $170,000 to workers victimized by George Cole and his company, COLE NYC LLC. The announcement by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office made yesterday underlined a six-month jail term for Cole, a five-year probation period, and a stipulation for 100 hours of community service. The sentence, which also includes revocation proceedings for Cole's Master Rigger license, comes as a clear message to those engaging in fraudulent activities within the construction industry.
As reported by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the wage theft amounted to approximately $169,500 stolen from workers between February 2022 and April 2023. George Cole's elaborate scheme involved partial payments to employees, outright refusal to provide fair remuneration, and attempts to shroud their wrongdoing by insulting those who dared to demand their rightful wages. Aiding the cause of justice, the D.A.’s Office is stepping up using its Stolen Wage Fund to ensure that the workers are made whole.
According to the same source, the prosecution stemmed from a series of forgeries and frauds that Cole conducted to maintain a facade of legitimacy, while in reality, his insurance coverage had lapsed, leaving his workers unprotected and underpaid. DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber criticized Cole for putting profit above fair pay and worker safety, a sentiment echoed by other officials involved in the multi-departmental effort that led to his conviction.
George Cole, whose personal expenses on girlfriends and luxury items were in stark contrast to the financial hardships faced by his underpaid employees, has also been ordered to repay $110,000 in wages. In the process of delivering the sentence, the Manhattan’s DA's Office has not only provided a modicum of redress to Cole's workers but also sent a stern warning signal that wage theft would not be tolerated. Meanwhile, Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo vowed to hold bad actors accountable while pursuing the revocation of Cole’s professional license, demonstrating an unwavering mindset in upholding the industry's highest standards.
