The owner of a failing Manhattan home health agency — who stiffed his employees while he posted YouTube videos begging them to keep working for no pay — will have to fork over $300,000 in back wages, authorities said today.
“We will survive, we will prosper, and I will come back to you,” Brightstar owner Christopher Luis, 58, promised in one of the videos. “One year from now we’re going to throw a big party and you’ll all be invited.”
A Manhattan Criminal Court judge ordered Luis, who pleaded guilty yesterday, to pay the $300,000 in back wages plus $75,000 in damages to 109 workers.
“Christopher Luis’ home health care employees worked day and night over many months helping frail and sick patients without any compensation at all,” said state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “As a result of this action, these workers will get the justice they deserve.”
Luis failed to pay many of his employees from March 2011 until his business closed six months later — and he continued hiring and not paying additional workers during that period, his complaint states.
Just a few months before his business was shuttered Luis posted two YouTube videos on the personal stress his business failures had caused him.
“I lost my marriage because of Brightstar. I live in a hotel in Chinatown,” whined Luis in one video. He also said he threw up in the toilet every morning and drank so heavily he put himself in rehab for four months.
“This Friday I ran out of money. I’ve got about $86,” the bad boss said.