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How many of you are a fan of Stash’s Pizza? Well, there is bad news for you Stash’s Pizza owner got sentenced for threatening undocumented employees, and that too for more than 8 years. Could you believe Stavros Papantoniadis also famously known as Steve Papantoniadis did such a thing, which compelled the authorities to place him behind bars? 

Stash Pizza is a Massachusetts pizzeria chain, which is run by Stavros P. Together with his workers, he managed to satisfy many pizza enthusiasts and established a good name in the pizza industry. However, all that glitters is not gold, because out of many, six of his workers stood up against the owner and reported his treatment to which the federal authorities instantly took notice. 

How Was Steve P. Treating His Workers? 

When the media asked the federal authorities how Steve P. was treating those six workers, the representatives said that the Stash’s Boston pizzeria chain was crossing limits in physically abusing and threatening them on a daily basis that if they did not follow and agree blindly to his workplace demands, which were already going overboard, the workers will face the music in the shape of deportation and further violence. 

Where Was The Case’s Hearing Held? 

The case was taken to the courtroom of the District of Massachusetts, where the federal authorities, the Justice Department also heard the complaints of the workers against the pizza owner, how he was threatening them and forcing them to do overtime. Hearing the usage of such brutal and unfair treatment, the Justice Department released the news that Stavros Papantoniadis also called Steve Papantoniadis’s case was taken into consideration. After doing three counts of forced labor and three counts of attempted forced labor, he was found guilty and as a result, Stash’s pizza owner got sentenced for threatening workers for more than 8 years. 

What Did U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy Say When The Pizza Owner Got Sentenced?

When the pizza shop owner was sentenced for threatening his employees, U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy condemned the actions in a press release. He pointed out how certain restaurant owners exploit vulnerable workers, often foreign nationals, by using tactics like confiscating passports and issuing threats of deportation. This method of control, Levy emphasized, traps workers in fear, making them feel powerless to report abuse.

In this case, the pizza shop owner, Stavros, followed the same ruthless path. He specifically hired foreign nationals without legal work authorization in the U.S., knowing he could exploit them. Once employed, he violated their rights, counting on their lack of immigration status to keep them compliant with his demands. He used intimidation, warning workers that complaints would lead to deportation or even physical harm. While most employees stayed silent out of fear, others bravely came forward to seek justice.

The Pizza Owner Got Sentenced For More Than 8 Years: Why? 

Steve Papantoniadis, a 49-year-old pizza shop owner from Westwood, Massachusetts, was sentenced to over eight years in prison for exploiting and threatening his employees in a case that revealed disturbing practices behind the scenes of his business. While his restaurants in Dorchester and Roslindale seemed friendly and welcoming to customers, the environment for workers was anything but.