The owner of a popular Utah chain of Mexican restaurants is facing up to five years in prison, charged with forging checks meant to repay his workers’ back wages.
Justin Hamilton, 40, of Logan, pleaded not guilty in April to a felony charge of obstructing a proceeding of a federal agency. On Monday, the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office scheduled a change-of-plea hearing for Thursday.
According to court documents, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division — which enforces federal labor laws covering the minimum wage, overtime pay and related record keeping — investigated violations at Café Sabor in Bear Lake.