$5M In Wage Fraud Leads To Prison Sentence For VA CEO

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A 75-year-old executive of a Chantilly-based government contractor will have to pay more than $1 million in restitution after being convicted of defrauding 42 employees of more than $5 million, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano's office.

Thomas Burns Sr. pleaded guilty to two counts of wage theft of more than $10,000, and one count of conspiracy to commit wage theft, all of which are felony charges. He was also sentenced to four years in prison with one year suspended for each of the three charges. The three sentences will run concurrently.

“Executives should not be able to get away with taking the money that you earned putting in an honest day’s work,” Descano said. “Stealing is stealing, and financial crimes can be just as devastating for victims’ families – those who don’t get paid can miss rent or mortgage payments, putting their safety and security at risk.”

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Burns' case is the largest wage theft in Fairfax County history, according to Descano's office.

As CEO of SP Global, Inc., Burns stopped paying 42 employees in October 2022, including managers and highly skilled tech workers, according to Descano's office.

"For months, Burns and other executives repeatedly promised employees that payment was forthcoming, including backpay and additional bonuses," according to a release. "Burns offered shifting explanations as to why employees were not being paid, including issues with international banking regulations and travel restrictions from the pandemic, while assuring employees that funds from a new investor were 'guaranteed and imminent.' Victims worked without pay for months, consoled by the promises made by executives, but eventually quit without ever being compensated for their work."

Eight of the 42 victims agreed to be included in the $1,070,429.21 restitution agreement. The remaining victims are moving forward with a civil suit, which is pending.