SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The owner of the former 'A Dollar Store' in Springfield was cited over $426,000 by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office for violating workers' rights. According to the Attorney General's Office (AGO), Shaukat Kassam owned the New Jersey-based retail company, Contrail Glory, Inc., dba A Dollar Store, formerly operated in Springfield. An investigation was conducted after the AGO received a complaint regarding the nonpayment of wages of two Springfield employees. Nine Massachusetts men arrested in connection with trafficking drugs in Maine The complainants alleged that throughout their employment, despite often working 70-90 hours per week, they only received a flat weekly salary that often did not meet minimum wage requirements, and they were also not given any overtime pay or sick leave.   During the investigation, the AGO alleges that Kassam also failed to provide certain requested information and documentation, including payroll records. The investigation revealed that Kassam allegedly failed to pay minimum wage and overtime, issue appropriate pay stubs, and permit employees to earn and use legally required sick time between at least May 2021 and June 2023. Due to the alleged violation of Massachusetts’ wage and hour laws, Kassam was ordered to pay over $426,000, including restitution for impacted workers and civil penalties.   The Springfield location abruptly closed in June 2023 and does not currently operate any locations in Massachusetts. Kassam owns and operates retail locations in New York and New Jersey. Local News Headlines East Longmeadow denying all outdoor burning permits Crash on Route 10 in Bernardston causes power outage Basketball Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich suffers ‘health issue,’ to be sidelined indefinitely Democrats call for investigation into grocery prices WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.