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Boston Pizzeria Owner Found Guilty of Forcing Workers to Labor Under Threat of Violence
Stavros Papantoniadis, 48, of Westwood, Massachusetts, was convicted of forcing or attempting to force six victims to work for him at his Stash’s Pizza pizzeria chain.
A nine-day jury trial revealed that Papantoniadis preyed on the desperation of undocumented workers, subjecting them to violent physical abuse, threats of abuse, and repeated threats to report them to immigration authorities for deportation.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Papantoniadis forced or attempted to force five men and one woman to work for him behind the scenes, often for 14 or more hours per day and as many as seven days per week.
The victims were forced to believe that Papantoniadis would physically harm them or have them deported if they did not comply with his demands. Papantoniadis monitored the workers with surveillance cameras, which he accessed from his cell phone, and constantly demeaned, insulted, and harassed them.
When one victim attempted to quit, Papantoniadis violently choked him, causing the victim to flee the pizza shop. In another instance, Papantoniadis chased a worker down Route 1 in Norwood, Massachusetts, and falsely reported the victim to the local police in an effort to pressure the victim to return to work.
“Today’s guilty verdict sends a powerful message to abusive employers that exploiting employees through fear and intimidation will never be tolerated,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “I commend the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners who worked collaboratively to bring this defendant to justice.”
Papantoniadis was convicted of three counts of forced labor and three counts of attempted forced labor. He has remained in custody since his arrest on March 16, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
“Stavros Papantoniadis instilled fear in his employees. He underpaid and threatened them, some with fear of arrest and many with physical abuse,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect – especially those who place their trust in their employer.”
Papantoniadis’ conviction marks a significant victory for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, which prioritizes and investigates allegations of labor trafficking by individuals who enrich themselves through coercion or force.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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