The owner of a San Mateo County hemp farm is facing dozens of charges after allegedly failing to pay his employees.
David Wayne Jenkins, a 37-year-old from Houston, was charged with 33 counts of grand theft labor after prosecutors identified 33 victims who had collectively lost hundreds of thousands in unpaid wages, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office reported.
Jenkins was the owner of Castle Management — also known as Castillo Seed — a now closed hemp growing operation in Half Moon Bay. The business was shut down in March after repeated failures to grow and sell hemp, but had run out of money before that, the DOA said.
On Dec. 29, Jenkins lost workers compensation insurance, but continued to work his employees. Workers were left without pay from December 2020 to January 2021, losing a total of $138,000. So far, Jenkins has paid $107,000 in restitution and is expected to continue making payments.
Jenkins’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24 at 9 a.m.
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