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Image capture Dec 2022 from Google Maps. Pictured is the Dorchester, MA location of Stash's Pizza, owned by Westwood resident Stavros Papantoniadis, who has been convicted of forced labor charges.
6-08-2024 10:10pm
Westwood Resident, Owner of MA Pizza Chain Locations, Convicted of Forced Labor Charges
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Following a nine-day trial, a Westwood resident who owns locations of the Massachusetts chain, Stash’s Pizza, has been convicted on forced labor charges on Friday, June 7, 2024, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Homeland Security Special Agent Michael J. Krol, and Department of Labor Special Agent Jonathan Mellone in a press release that same day.
The conviction of 48 year-old Stavros (Steve) Papantoniadis comes a little over one year after he was arrested.
Mr. Papantoniadis owns and operates pizzerias in Dorchester and Roslindale, and previously had pizzerias in Norwood, Norwell, Randolph (d/b/a Boston Pizza Company), Weymouth (d/b/a Pacini’s Italian Eatery) and Wareham in Massachusetts. The Norwood location of Stash's pizza on its website has featured a disclaimer since around the time of Mr. Papantoniadis's arrest in which it distances itself from other Stash's Pizza operations that include the two currently owned by Mr. Papantoniadis. The Norwood location's website states, "Stash's Pizza of Norwood is separately owned and is not affiliated with any other locations. We have been separately owned since May 2019, and we try our best to provide great customer service to all!"
Mr. Papantoniadis was convicted of three counts of forced labor and three counts of attempted forced labor. Charges of forced labor and attempted forced labor can carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison, up to 5 years of supervised release, a fine up to $250,000, and restitution. His sentencing hearing is set for September, before a federal district court.
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“Today’s guilty verdict sends a powerful message to abusive employers that exploiting employees through fear and intimidation will never be tolerated. I hope that this verdict also alerts others who may be victims of exploitation and harm by employers, that the federal government will not sit idly by,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy in a June 7th
press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts.
"Mr. Papantoniadis forced or attempted to force five men and one woman to work for him through violent physical abuse, threats of abuse, and repeated threats to report victims to immigration authorities to have them deported," states the U.S. Attorney’s Office in its press release. The U.S. Attorney's Office presented evidence to show that Mr. Papantoniadis deliberately employed workers without immigration status, and worked them for 14 or more hours per day and for as many as 7 days a week. Mr. Papantoniadis is described as threatening the employees with physical harm and deportation, monitoring them with surveillance cameras, and constantly demeaning, insulting, and harassing them.
“When Papantoniadis learned that one victim planned to quit, he violently choked him, causing that victim to flee the pizza shop and run to safety in the parking lot. When other victims separately expressed their intentions to quit, Papantoniadis told one victim that he would kill him and call immigration authorities; and he threatened another worker by telling him he knew where the victim lived,” states the U.S. Attorney’s Office in its press release. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office describes Mr. Papantoniadis chasing one worker down Route 1 in Norwood after the worker attempted to leave, and reporting the worker to local police in order to pressure the worker to return to the pizza shop.
“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. HSI is committed to ensuring those who violate forced labor laws are held accountable and brought to justice.”
Members of the public who believe they are a victim of labor trafficking or have information about labor trafficking are asked to call 888-221-6023, Option 5, or send an email with contact information to USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
Source: Press Release, U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts (Fri. June 7, 2024).
