The owner of a popular east side sushi restauraunt is facing allegations of not paying his employees.

Joe Fernandez, the owner of Susaki Lounge, is accused of not providing employees full payment for hours worked, and not filing W-2 forms and Social Security numbers for new employees.

Arturo Vasquez, a former employee of Susaki Lounge, contacted KFOX14 to report the issue. Vasquez says that the checks he did receive from Fernandez bounced because of insufficient funds.

"I was employed here for about a month, I've only been paid two paychecks that didn't go through in the bank," Vasquez said.

Vasquez also tells KFOX14 that Fernandez failed to pay him any tips, or even pay the flat $2.30-an-hour rate he was supposed to be earning.

"I feel like it's like blackmailing because he does not have statements for the tips that the guests and clients give to you," Vasquez said.

Vasquez showed KFOX14 the checks from Fernandez that bounced because of a lack of funds. One of the checks was for three weeks of work, a total of $75.

After the station tried to get in contact with him for several hours, Fernandez called KFOX14 to discuss the allegations.

He described them as "totally false" and said they were simply the actions of a disgruntled former employee.

"To be honest, I don't even remember having an employee by that name," Fernandez said.

KFOX14 asked Fernandez if Susaki Lounge had been previously reported to any labor departments in the state, to which he said no.

KFOX14 contacted the Texas Workforce Commision, and found that there were 11 claims lodged against Susaki Lounge by former employees.

After Fernandez called the KFOX14 studio and spoke with a producer, he released this statement:

"If he (Vasquez) would've come to me, I would've taken care of it. He didn't come to me. I overdrew my account. I apologize."

For Vasquez, an apology by a manwho claimed to not even know who he was doesn't make sense.

"I think it's funny one of the first questions he asked me when he interviwed me was, are you a responsible man? I said yes I'm responsible; now looking back on it, it's ironic," Vasquez said.