New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a major victory for workers on Friday, as her office secured $750,000 in stolen wages for employees of Best Wireless, a former certified Verizon retailer. The company, which once operated 29 stores across New York, including Rockland County, was found to have committed serious labor violations, such as illegal wage deductions, failure to pay overtime, and retaliating against employees who raised concerns.
Best Wireless, which employed approximately 450 workers, deducted wages for lost merchandise, charged for uniforms and background checks, and refused to provide legally required breaks and overtime pay. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) uncovered these practices and found numerous instances of retaliation against employees who spoke up about unfair labor conditions. One district manager who filed a complaint was fired and repeatedly threatened with legal action.
“Every worker should receive the fair treatment and full compensation they have earned and deserve,” said Attorney General James. “Best Wireless refused to provide this to its hundreds of employees, threatening their livelihoods and flagrantly violating the laws designed to keep New York workers safe. With today’s agreement, we are returning this money to the employees who earned it.”
The investigation found that Best Wireless failed to provide employees with essential protections under New York Labor Law and the Fair Labor Standards Act. In addition to wage theft, employees were fired or had their hours cut when they complained. Best Wireless operated stores in multiple locations, including five in Brooklyn, six in Manhattan, and one in Rockland County’s Orangeburg.
As part of the settlement, Best Wireless is no longer an authorized Verizon retailer, and the company’s owner, Nishant Garg, must notify the OAG if he takes a management or ownership role at another company.
This case is part of a broader effort by Attorney General James to combat wage theft. Over the past two years, her office has recovered millions of dollars in stolen wages for workers in industries such as transportation, hospitality, and personal care.
This investigation was conducted by the OAG Labor Bureau with support from various divisions of the Attorney General’s Office, reinforcing the commitment of New York State to protect workers’ rights.