> it will negatively affect the co-workers who have previously worked for low wage and equity.
No. The CEO's actions negatively affected your co-workers, not yours. Do you suppose if you don't report this that life will become wonderful for them, that they'll suddenly get millions of dollars from their equity in a company that can't pay its employees? That seems very, very unlikely to me. And if the situation is this precarious, than any nudge could break the company.
Definitely get a lawyer. Ethically, though, you have no reason at all to feel bad about reporting them. You'd be doing the right thing.
No. The CEO's actions negatively affected your co-workers, not yours. Do you suppose if you don't report this that life will become wonderful for them, that they'll suddenly get millions of dollars from their equity in a company that can't pay its employees? That seems very, very unlikely to me. And if the situation is this precarious, than any nudge could break the company.
Definitely get a lawyer. Ethically, though, you have no reason at all to feel bad about reporting them. You'd be doing the right thing.