A pizza shop owner in Massachusetts has received a hefty prison sentence of over eight years after being found guilty of forced labor. Stavros Papantoniadis, 49, from Westwood, was convicted of using threats and physical violence against his undocumented workers at Stash’s Pizza.
After a detailed investigation and trial, a jury handed down the verdict in June, leading to a federal judge sentencing him to 102 months in prison, followed by a year of supervised release and a $35,000 fine.
Since his arrest in March 2023, Papantoniadis has been in custody. Prosecutors revealed that he compelled six workers—five men and one woman—to meet excessive demands, making them toil through exhausting 14-hour shifts, seven days a week.
Evidence showed he maintained control through surveillance, threatening to report his employees to immigration authorities and resorting to physical violence. One victim even had to escape after being choked by Papantoniadis, while another was chased down a highway after trying to leave the job.
Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe/ AP
What Prosecutors Said
U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy described the case as a stark example of labor trafficking, highlighting how Papantoniadis exploited vulnerable individuals for profit.
“Labor trafficking exploits the vulnerable through fear and intimidation,” Levy stated. “Papantoniadis deliberately targeted foreign nationals without work authorization and used their immigration status to maintain control over them.”
What Papantoniadis Said
Meanwhile, Papantoniadis’ attorney, Carmine Lepore, is seeking an appeal, arguing that the sentence is more fitting for severe trafficking offenses, such as human trafficking.
“While the judge imposed a sentence slightly below guidelines, we believe it is still excessive,” Lepore remarked. “The sentencing framework should align with cases of human trafficking.”
This article incorporates reporting from The Associated Press.