The previous head of Goya asserted his ignorance concerning his termination. Relatives holding positions within the company's board accuse him of involvement in a concealment scheme.
While the board's decision has left many questioning, Unanue, a prominent Trump supporter and advocate against child trafficking, remained firm in his stance. His supportive posts on X have garnered nearly 70,000 likes, with backing from conservative-leaning accounts. However, a lawsuit filed by his cousin and Goya executive, Francisco "Frankie" Unanue, on February 5, alleges a "clandestine agreement" and "collusion" leading to mismanagement and financial losses.
The lawsuit, filed in Bergen County, New Jersey Superior Court, claims Unanue entered into a secret agreement with a long-time friend and hand-picked IT department head, Suvajit Basu, enabling poor IT management and misuse of funds. Goya Foods filed a lawsuit against Basu in 2024, but Frankie joined the case in February 20XX, naming Unanue as a defendant.
Basu declined to comment, while Goya Foods denies all allegations and defends Unanue's actions. Unanue's representative described the allegations as "frivolous, absurd, and defamatory."
The lawsuit alleges that Basu, hired without board approval in 2015, purged employees and brought in associates, resulting in excessive consulting fees. Unanue strongly defended Basu despite his termination, and accused the board of harassment and defamation.
Frankie's lawsuit against Unanue includes counts of breach of fiduciary duty and seeks damages. Basu's counter complaint alleges discrimination and a hostile work environment based on age and ethnicity, including racist comments.
The inner workings of this prominent Hispanic-owned food company are rarely publicized due to its private ownership and family control. The company was founded by Unanue's grandfather and remains family-run. The allegations surfaced following Unanue's controversial political comments in 2021, which led to calls for a boycott.
[2]: This enrichment data doesn't specifically refer to the lawsuit and allegations mentioned in the base article, but instead discusses a different lawsuit filed by Francisco Unanue against Goya Foods, which is not directly related to the main topic.
Unanue's cousin, Francisco "Frankie" Unanue, accused him of colluding with a friend for business gains, leading to financial losses for Goya Foods. This allegation was part of a lawsuit filed in Bergen County, New Jersey Superior Court. Unanue's representative dismissed the claims as defamatory and absurd.
