Boston Pizzeria Chain Owner Arrested On Forced Labor Charge: AG

BOSTON, MA — The owner of a pizza chain was arrested Thursday morning on charges that he forced a victim who lacked immigration status to work for him for years while threatening him with deportation and subjecting him to abuse, according to a statement from prosecutors.

Stavros Papantoniadis, also known as “Steve Papantoniadis,” 47, of Westwood, was charged with one count of forced labor.

“Forced labor is a form of human trafficking," U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement. "We allege that Mr. Papantoniadis compelled and threatened victims to work against their will using fear, violence and the threat of deportation.”

Papantoniadis is the owner of Stash's Pizza, a chain of pizzerias with locations in Dorchester and Roslindale and previously had pizzerias in Norwood, Norwell, Randolph, and Weymouth under other names. Prosecutors allege that over the course of several years, Papantoniadis targeted victims who lacked immigration status and employed them at depressed wages.

He would then demand that they work, in most cases, six to seven days a week often for more than eight hours per day and without breaks or overtime compensation. Papantoniadis also withheld wages, according to prosecutors.

Papantoniadis allegedly threatened to have employees deported and used violence and threats to force workers to comply with his demands. Prosecutors claim that Papantoniadis repeatedly made derogatory remarks about one victim's religion and violently attacked the victim several times.

When the victim, who worked for Papantoniadis from 2001 to 2015, sought medical treatment, Papantoniadis threatened to kill him or report him to immigration authorities if he didn't return to work.

On other occasions, Papantoniadis slapped and choked the victim and broke his teeth, according to prosecutors.

Other employees provided more information about Papantoniadis's alleged threats and violence. When one victim planned to quit, Papantoniadis told him that he was not going to leave and attacked the victim, forcing him to run to safety in the parking lot, according to prosecutors.

When another victim attempted to quit, Papantoniadis is accused of making a false police report stating the victim had hit his car and left the scene of the accident after leaving a Stash's Pizza in Norwood.

Papantoniadis appeared in federal court in Boston on Thursday afternoon and was detained pending a hearing set for Monday.

Papantoniadis faces up to 20 years in prison, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.