Stash’s Pizza Owner Indicted On New Forced Labor Charges: Feds

BOSTON, MA — The owner of a chain of Boston-area pizza restaurants was indicted on new federal charges Wednesday connected to violent treatment of undocumented workers, federal prosecutors said.

Westwood resident Stavros Papantoniadis, 48, is now facing four counts of forced labor and three counts of attempted forced labor. He was previously arrested on March 16 on a single charge of forced labor.

"Over the course of several years, Papantoniadis allegedly targeted victims who lacked immigration status, employed them at depressed wages and demanded that they work, in most cases, six to seven days per week, at times for far more than eight hours per day and often without breaks or overtime compensation. Papantoniadis also allegedly withheld wages," federal prosecutors said in a news release Wednesday.

Prosecutors said Papantoniadis used violence against at least seven employees. The restaurant owner kicked one employee in the genitals, chocked him and knocked teeth out, prosecutors said. When employees attempted to quit, Papantoniadis would threaten to come to their homes or call immigration officials, prosecutors said.

There are Stash's locations in Dorchester and Roslindale, and Papantoniadis previously operated Boston Pizza Company locations in Norwood, Norwell and Randolph, and Pacini’s Italian Eatery restaurants in Weymouth and Wareham.

Papantoniadis has been in federal custody since his March 16 arrest. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison, plus fines topping $250,000, prosecutors said.