A New York City designer to stars – including the likes of Julia Roberts and Cynthia Erivo – has been charged with running a “sweatshop” and bilking her employees out of thousands in unpaid wages.
Andrea Mary Marshall, the founder of the Garment District atelier Salon 1884, is accused of stealing roughly $54,000 from her nine employees and forcing them to work “exploitative” hours, with unpaid shifts lasting up to 17 hours a day, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.
Marshall, 44, was arraigned on charges of grand larceny, scheme to defraud, effective failure to secure compensation and five counts of failure to labor law-mandated pay wages in Manhattan court Wednesday.
The alleged fraudster’s designs – which include a $9,000 lambskin leather dress and other pricey, luxury goods – have been featured in Vogue Magazine and sold at high-end retailers including Neiman Marcus.
Her lawyer didn’t immediate return a request for comment.