ALBANY — Two years ago, Shahking Gomez was unemployed when his job search led him to the Soundview HealthCare Network, a group of nonprofit health clinics in the Bronx operated by the State Senate majority leader, Pedro Espada Jr.

Mr. Gomez said he was promised a job as a janitor as long as he completed a short training program. What he said he spent two weeks doing was working all day: sweeping, mopping, cleaning the front sidewalk of a clinic and disposing of medical waste.

“There was no training whatsoever,” said Mr. Gomez, 30, who lives in the Bronx. “They just handed me a mop and bucket and told me to get to work. After the two weeks they gave me a personal check for $200 and a certificate of completion, and then they basically sent me on my way. They told me there was no permanent work.”

Mr. Gomez was not the only one who was duped by Mr. Espada’s clinics, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said. On Wednesday, Mr. Cuomo’s office filed a civil suit against Soundview, Mr. Espada and Mr. Espada’s son Pedro G. Espada, accusing them of setting up a sham training program as a way to grossly underpay janitors — some as little as $1.70 an hour.