Aliens’ Boss Accused of Wage Theft

In a case that Costa Mesa police believe is the first of its kind in Orange County, a painting contractor was jailed Wednesday for allegedly failing to pay $1,800 in back wages to three Mexican dayworkers who are in the country illegally.

Police arrested contractor Hugo H. Cicardini, 39, of Mission Viejo at his home after Cicardini allegedly refused to pay the workers, then threatened to turn them over to immigration authorities for deportation, Lt. Gary Webster said.

“This is the first wage-theft case (involving illegal aliens) that ended in an arrest that we’ve ever done, and we believe it’s the first in Orange County,” Webster said.

Story Told to Officer

Between June 1 and June 30, three workers--Antonio Ramirez, 24, Hector Leon, 25, and Javier Leon, 39, all of Costa Mesa--were employed as house painters for Cicardini, Webster said. Cicardini paid them a small portion of their wages but stalled, then refused to pay them the remainder, a total of $1,800, Webster said.

According to police, the three men asked Cicardini for the rest of their wages on three different occasions but were refused. They reported their story to a bilingual police officer at the city’s Westside Substation, who in turn contacted Cicardini. But Cicardini again refused, police said.

“One of our police officers, Dennis Jefcoat, then personally went to Cicardini’s house and, although he was not home, left a note requesting him to pay the workers or have criminal charges filed against him. But the contractor did not respond,” Webster said.

The investigation was referred to the Orange County district attorney’s office, which decided to prosecute Cicardini for grand theft of labor and wages, Webster said.

A $5,000 arrest warrant was issued by Harbor Municipal Court Judge Russell A. Bostrom, and as a result Cicardini was arrested at his residence about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday without incident, Webster said. He was being held in the city jail late Wednesday in lieu of $10,000 bail on suspicion of grand theft of labor and wages.

The case is the Police Department’s first wage dispute involving illegal aliens who allegedly have been victimized by an employer.