Hangover Pub owner pleads guilty in taking $130K in Chameleon drug money
Photo | Grant Welker
Stacey Gala was convicted for conspiring to use drug money to renovate and run The Chamelon on Shrewsbury.
Christopher Slavinskas, who is listed on the business license of Hangover Pub in Worcester, on Thursday plead guilty to concealing $330,000 in drug money from investigators in The Chameleon restaurant saga and keeping $130,000 for himself, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston.
Slavinskas, 32, pleaded to a charge of making a false statement to federal investigators. His sentencing is scheduled for June 29, and he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The money came from the drug sales of Kevin Perry, the former owner of The Usual restaurant and Blackstone Tap bar, who faces 14 charges in federal court of money laundering and other drug-related charges. Perry pleaded guilty in October and agreed to a sentence of 14 to 16 years in prison and forfeiture of his properties and assets. His sentencing is scheduled for April.
Perry's wife, Stacey Gala, and her business partner Joseph Herman allegedly used a portion of Perry's money hidden in a Northborough storage locker to open The Chameleon restaurant in The Usual's Shrewsbury Street location after the latter closed down once Perry was indicted.
Slavinskas originally told federal investigators he helped Gala conceal $200,000 of the storage locker money and then returned all of it back to her about 30 days later. However, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Slavinskas actually hid about $330,000 and spent $130,000 on himself and others before returning $200,000 to Gala.
Slavinskas could not be reached for comment on Thursday at the Hangover Pub. He is listed as the manager of the business in its incorporation filings with the Massachusetts Secretary of State.
Gala is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and a criminal forfeiture allegation, and Herman is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, making false statements to investigators, witness tampering and a criminal forfeiture allegation.
Both pleaded not guilty and were released at their arraignment last month.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments