Labor Commissioner’s BOFE unit cites L.A. developers $2.3 million for wage theft at four construction sites
Los Angeles—The California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) has issued citations totaling more than $2.3 million to multiple developers and affiliated entities operating construction projects at four sites in Los Angeles. The citations stem from an investigation that revealed widespread wage theft and other labor law violations impacting 124 construction workers.
Investigators from the LCO’s Bureau of Field Enforcement (BOFE) found that workers were being denied legally required overtime pay despite regularly working more than eight hours a day or 40 hours per week. Many were also paid below the Los Angeles minimum wage and were never provided with required sick leave or accurate itemized wage statements.
Workers frequently received multiple pay stubs from different corporate entities, despite reporting to the same supervisors, and working on overlapping projects. This scheme was a deliberate attempt to evade paying legally mandated overtime and minimum wage.
The BOFE investigation also revealed additional violations, including the employer’s failure to provide workers with paid sick leave and supplemental paid sick leave during the pandemic.
What California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower said: “Employers can’t hide behind corporate shell games to cheat workers out of their hard-earned wages and entitled protections. This case is a clear example of how business entities were used to mislead workers and deny them the basic rights and legal protections they deserve under the law.”
The citations total $2,345,384, including more than $2.1 million in unpaid wages and damages, along with over $165,000 in accrued interest. While the exact amount owed to each worker varies, the total averages approximately $18,900 per person. The affected workers, many of whom performed physically demanding tasks such as framing, tiling, painting, and plumbing, were employed across the following four construction sites:
Worksite Locations:
- 751 South Valencia Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
- 2020 North Barranca Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031
- 5933–5939 Monterey Road & 470 South Avenue 60, Los Angeles, CA 90042
- 215 North San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031
Legal Entities and Individuals Cited:
- Todd Wexman, an individual
- Bridget Wexman, an individual
- Jeffrey Farrington, an individual
- San Fernando Studios LP and San Fernando Studios LLC
- Monterey 60 LP and Monterey 60 LLC
- 4Mica LP and 4Mica LLC
- Barranca Studios LP and Barranca Studios LLC
The violations occurred between May 2021 and August 2023 and were referred to the LCO in March 2023 by the Carpenters/Contractors Cooperation Committee, Inc., a labor management cooperation committee within the construction industry.
California law grants cited employers the opportunity to appeal. Employers have 15 business days from the date citations are served to request an informal hearing. If no appeal is filed within that time, the citations become final and enforceable.
About the Bureau of Field Enforcement
BOFE is a unit within the LCO enforcing key labor laws through on-site investigations and strategic enforcement actions.
BOFE targets industries with high rates of labor violations, conducting workplace inspections to uncover wage theft, child labor violations, failure to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and other unlawful employment practices. Its work helps ensure fair treatment for workers while promoting a level playing field for responsible employers.
BOFE has issued almost 2,100 citations against employers for labor law violations between January 2022 and August 2025, recovering over $43.7 million of stolen wages, penalties, and interest on behalf of workers.
This comes on top of multiple announcements this year highlighting a range of violations, including a settlement of $430,000 to return unpaid wages and damages to 86 carpenters, $1.1 Million in penalties issued to a Buena Park restaurant over wage and sick leave violations, and a citation of more than $2 million for misclassifying workers.
BOFE has also issued more than 2,300 notices to discontinue labor law violations in the past year, and corrected violations that collectively impacted over 23,000 California workers.
To meet growing enforcement demands and expand outreach, BOFE has also increased staffing across key regions, strengthening its presence in communities most impacted by labor violations.
Workers who have questions about labor laws enforced by the LCO can call 1-833-LCO-INFO (833-526-4636) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, services available in Spanish and other languages.
LCO is a division of the Department of Industrial Relations.
Californians can follow the Labor Commissioner on Facebook, and X (Twitter).
Employers with Questions on Requirements May Contact: MakeItFair@dir.ca.gov
Media Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161