Berks County Man Indicted in Witness Tampering Case

HARRISBURG — A 34-year-old Berks County man, William Papoutsis, Jr., has been indicted on federal charges of witness tampering after allegedly threatening a witness tied to his nephew’s upcoming federal trials. The indictment, returned October 19, 2016, by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg, marks a sharp escalation in a case rooted in two violent bank robberies across Pennsylvania.

According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Papoutsis used Facebook to deliver threats against the witness, an act prosecutors say was intended to obstruct justice in the case against his nephew, Derek Pelker. The allegations paint a picture of digital intimidation in service of criminal loyalty — a move that could cost Papoutsis up to 45 years behind bars if convicted.

Pelker, facing two separate federal indictments from August 24, 2016, is accused of robbing the Susquehanna Bank in East Prospect on April 24, 2015, and the M&T Bank in Lebanon on April 5, 2016. Both heists were brazen, surveillance footage showing a masked suspect wielding a firearm and fleeing with tens of thousands in cash. Now, the web tightens around those who would shield him.

The FBI’s Capital City Violent Crimes Task Force, a joint effort between the FBI’s Harrisburg Field Office and the Harrisburg Police Department, led the investigation. Agents traced the digital footprints of Papoutsis’ online threats, building a case that moves beyond physical crime scenes and into the dangerous realm of judicial interference.

Assistant United States Attorney Scott R. Ford is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty for the charged offenses includes 45 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a $750,000 fine. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the judge will weigh the nature and seriousness of the offense, the defendant’s history, and the need to protect the public before imposing sentence.

As always, the indictment is merely an allegation. William Papoutsis, Jr. is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case underscores the federal government’s zero-tolerance policy for threats against the judicial process — where intimidation, even from the sidelines, becomes a crime all its own.

RELATED: Bangor Predator: Simineri Indicted in Child Sex Abuse Case

RELATED: Bangor Man Charged With Enticing Minor, Child Pornography