Mar 25, 2025
A former restaurant owner in Ohio has been accused by state officials of misusing nearly $850,000 in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds and writing bad checks — including to employees — totaling over $140,000.
Marcelo Fadul Neves, 59, faces charges including grand theft, passing bad checks and tampering with records.
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“We have seen numerous examples of citizens using COVID relief funds for improper purposes,” Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley said in a March 12 news release. “This case is one of the most egregious.”
Here’s the story behind the indictment. Plus, a few ways that workers can protect their wages.
What happened
The prosecutor’s office alleges that Neves applied for federal funds in 2021 to help his Cleveland restaurant, Crop Bistro, despite the establishment already being closed at the time. He’s accused of using the funds — totaling $846,720 — for personal expenses, paying off debts and purchasing another restaurant in Olmstead Falls called Bistro on the Falls, which has since closed.
In addition, between 2020 and 2024, Neves allegedly wrote over $140,000 in bad checks to multiple people, including restaurant employees.
He’s set to be arraigned on March 27.
The indictment comes one year after News 5 Cleveland reports a former Bistro on the Falls employee, Lisette Ponce, reached out to them claiming her paychecks were bouncing. At the time, the local broadcaster says, Neves and his attorney repeatedly stated they were working to pay back employees.
Ponce admitted to feeling some relief about the indictment, but gloomily remarked to News 5: "Do I think that any of us are going to maybe see any of our money? Probably not.”
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Protect your wages
Ponce wouldn’t be the first employee to be victim to shady business practices. Whether it's bounced checks, late payments or worse, knowing how to protect your wages can make a significant difference.
Know your rights
Wage laws vary by state, covering issues like break times, overtime pay and tip sharing. Understanding these laws can help you determine if your employer is following the rules. If your employer refuses to pay wages, you may be able to file a wage complaint with your state’s labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor. If your employer received government relief funds, check whether they have specific obligations to use those funds for payroll.
Track your hours
Keeping accurate records of your work hours can be crucial if you ever need to prove unpaid wages. Make notes about shift times and take photos of staff schedules — or even a punched time card if your workplace uses them. Pay stubs and payment confirmations can also help if you maintain a record of your hours worked in case you need to dispute missing wages.
Speak up and ask for help
If you notice discrepancies in your paycheck, bring them up with your employer as soon as possible. If your employer is withholding wages, you may want to contact a labor rights attorney or a worker advocacy organization for guidance. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division can investigate wage theft claims.
By staying informed and proactive, employees can better protect themselves and ensure they are paid the wages they rightfully earned.
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Danielle is a personal finance writer based in Ohio. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love.
