One former employee of Durham-based CJF America says he has gotten paid part of what he is owed.
WRAL Investigates has reported for months on the company, whose executives are facing a lawsuit and criminal charges, as they face accusations of not paying employees.
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Ethan McRay, who worked as a counselor for the summer camp in Raleigh, says he received a check over the weekend for $577.
WRAL Investigates spoke with him earlier in the week and asked him to be in touch if the funds hit his account, which he says they did on Tuesday.
The amount is a drop in the bucket of the roughly $500,000, of which WRAL Investigates is aware of people claiming they are owed by the group.
"They still owe me an additional $1,300," McRay said.
McRay, 19, says working for CJF America was his first job ever. He says he kept showing up to work over the summer, despite not getting paid, "for the kids and the community of Southeast Raleigh."
WRAL Investigates has done more than a dozen stories on CJF America, including about executives' failed elections in Siler City, false testimonials on the company's website and a lawsuit filed by seven former employees from multiple states. That lawsuit, as well as recent criminal charges against company founder Courtney Jordan and Chief Financial Officer Nicholas Gallardo, remain unserved. WRAL Investigates has also reported on the company's history of evading authorities.
The company's president, Kristen Picot, faces criminal charges for writing bad checks, though, as WRAL Investigates has reported, she missed her last two court dates.
"I think they need to face consequences and I hope it happens soon," McRay said.
WRAL Investigates has tried repeatedly to speak in person with company executives, reaching out by phone and email, and knocking on addresses associated with the company.