East Providence contractor accused of stealing over $93K from employees

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office said Wednesday an East Providence contractor is accused of stealing over $93,000 from his employees.

Attorney General Peter Neronha said that 48-year-old Marcos Mutz, owner of the now defunct M. Mutz Construction, stole $93,643 from 12 former employees.

The employees were working for Mutz during the construction and renovation of the RISE Prep Mayoral Academy in Woonsocket back in 2018 and 2019.

Mutz was supposed to pay those employees $52 per hour but instead, he allegedly only paid them $30 per hour, said Neronha.

The attorney general’s office said that Mutz used the extra $93,643 to pay for tools, family medical expenses, and personal expenses.

Investigators found that Mutz did not pay any of those workers overtime wages, despite them regularly working over 40 hours per week.

Mutz is facing the following charges:

• One count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500
• One count of unlawful appropriation over $1,000
• One count of providing false certified payroll documents
• 12 misdemeanor counts of wage theft

He’s scheduled to appear in Providence Superior Court on May 24.