You can't deduct something from your income that was never included in your income to begin with. If wages were never paid, you never paid tax, so that's the tax reduction you get.
Depending on the amount of compensation owed, you may want to hire an attorney. Although employees may be considered unsecured creditors, there may be state laws that require employees to be paid before other debts can be settled. You may also be able to lay criminal or civil charges against the owners that would, at least, bar them from operating another business.
