NEW YORK, NY November 19, 2009 —

More than 20 restaurants in Brooklyn stiffed their workers to the tune of more than $900,000, according to state investigators. State Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith says her agency's sweep of establishments along Fifth and Seventh Avenues in Park Slope is just the beginning.

"This is the future," she says. "We will be doing these type of proactive sweeps across the city, you can expect that within the next few years you may well be visited whether or not your employees file a complaint."

Coco Roco, Rachel's Taqueria, and Olive Vine Cafe are among the 23 restaurants that were found to be in violation of minimum-wage laws when investigators came through last April. So far only a fraction of the money workers are owed has been recovered.

The raids were conducted in April but the announcement was made today to mark National Wage Theft Day.