Theodora Panousos, Obstruction of Justice, Massachusetts

BOSTON – Giovanni’s Roast Beef & Pizza in Peabody, Mass., finds itself at the center of a federal obstruction of justice probe. Owners Theodora Panousos, 63, and Konstantinos Panousos, 37, were busted for allegedly tampering with evidence in an ongoing tax evasion investigation.

The couple faced charges in U.S. District Court in Boston, accused of removing items from a safe deposit box following the execution of federal search warrants. They are facing two counts of corruptly concealing a record, document or other object, and attempting to do so with the intent to impair the object’s integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding.

According to court documents, Dora and Kosta were being investigated for tax evasion and filing false tax returns. On Feb. 15, 2017, federal investigators served search warrants at Giovanni’s restaurant and at Dora’s residence, seizing safe deposit box keys among other items. Both were also served with grand jury subpoenas.

Despite the searches and subpoenas, the Panousos reportedly emptied a bank’s safe deposit box, keeping only jewelry. Surveillance footage caught Dora leaving the bank with items from the box. Later that day, they attempted to have another safe deposit box drilled open after Dora claimed she lost the keys, but investigators arrived first, uncovering approximately $415,000 in cash.

The Panousos now face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison for obstruction of justice, along with fines and supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Balthazard is leading the prosecution.

Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The details in this article are based on charging documents, which contain allegations only.