Restaurant Manager Forced a Black Man to Work Without Pay

Bobby Edwards, a manager at a cafeteria in Conway, SC, forced John Christopher Smith to work for no pay.

Smith worked for over 100 hours every week. The abuse went on for years, until Edwards’ hearing in 2018.

Edwards pleaded guilty to forced labor in 2018. A year later it was decided Edwards owes Smith $273,000. Intially, the court thought this covered all unpaid wages and overtime. However, he actually owed Smith double that amount according to a ruling in April.

CNN reports:

“But the court ‘erred in failing to include liquidated damages’ in the restitution, a provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act that would’ve doubled the amount of restitution Smith received, according to the April ruling from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals based in Richmond, Virginia.”

CNN