Amityville contractor pleads guilty in West Islip wage theft case

A local contractor pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to failing to pay required prevailing wages to workers on a public school renovation project, a conviction that returns $13,380 to affected employees and signals tougher scrutiny of taxpayer-funded contracts. Rand Strollo, 62, of Amityville, admitted guilt to petit larceny for wage shortfalls tied to work performed by RJ Painting Inc. at Masera Middle School in West Islip.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Labor Unit prosecuted the case in partnership with the Department of Labor. As part of the disposition, Strollo must repay $13,380 in restitution to his former employees. Prosecutors characterized the case as part of the office’s effort to protect workers from wage theft and to hold contractors accountable on public works projects.

Prevailing wage rules are designed to ensure that contractors on public projects pay locally established rates for trades and labor. When contractors underpay workers, the immediate consequences fall on employees who lose earned income and on competing contractors who follow the law but face unfair bidding pressure. Public projects such as school renovations are funded by taxpayers, and enforcement actions recover money owed to workers while reinforcing compliance standards for future bids.

For workers and tradespeople across Suffolk County, the case delivers both material relief and a message: unpaid wages can be pursued through criminal prosecution and restitution orders. For responsible contractors and subcontractors, the ruling reduces the incentive to cut labor costs through illegal shortcuts, which helps preserve market conditions for firms that pay prevailing wages and hire locally.

The case also carries implications for school districts and municipal procurement officials. Stronger enforcement reduces the risk that public funds subsidize wage shortfalls and undercuts long-term workforce stability on projects that rely on skilled painters, carpenters, and other trades. Contractors preparing bids for county and school construction should factor in compliance costs explicitly to avoid legal exposure and to ensure accurate pricing for labor.

While the restitution amount in this matter is modest relative to large-scale public works, the conviction is consistent with a broader emphasis on labor enforcement in the region. Residents who work on or depend on public-construction projects can expect closer monitoring of wage compliance and may see more cases brought when violations are discovered. For affected workers, the immediate outcome is reimbursement; for the community, the case aims to promote fair competition and protect the hourly paychecks that keep local families and the county economy moving forward.