Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 16, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 13 March 2018 Slavinskas pleads guilty to taking $330,000 of Perry's drug money. April 2018 U.S. District Judge Timothy Hillman authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to sell 166 Shrewsbury St., which Perry surrendered as part of his plea deal. Sources: WBJ news reports After he bought out Niche Hospitality, Kevin Perry and his wife Stacey Gala opened The Usual specialty sandwich shop. CLIENT: NOT-FOR-PROFIT SCHOOL & FOUNDATION Their 403(b) re rement plan was riddled with inefficiencies, lacking adequate record keeping and employee educa on, resul ng in a program that was complex and confusing. H&H clarified the road ahead with an in-depth benchmarking study, then provided a lower-cost plan streamlining administra on and reducing risk exposure. Get the full story at hhconsultants.com/success Put our knowledgeable and dedicated professionals to work for your business. We offer a full range of comprehensive actuarial, investment advisory and re rement plan consul ng services. We iden fy each client's need, custom design programs to achieve the highest level of success and consistently exceed expecta ons. RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES THAT PASS THE TEST Each client's situa on is different and results may vary from those presented here the Blackstone Tap on Water Street and seven other Central Mass. properties. "If I had the money he was spending, I'd probably be on an island somewhere, not running a restaurant," Piccolo said. Less than six months aer e Usual opened, Perry was indicted on 14 charges, including nine counts of money laundering, three counts of aggravated cash structuring, one count of making a false statement on a loan application and one count of distribution of fentanyl. e federal government alleges Perry used proceeds from illegal drug sales to open e Usual and operate the Black- stone Tap, and then used both restau- rants to launder his drug money. Because Gala was the applicant for e Usual's liquor license, the restaurant was able to avoid Perry's drug history. In 2005, he was convicted of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute ecstasy. He was sentenced to time in prison. "In reviewing Ms. Gala's application, the city's license commission followed the same process it follows for all liquor license applications, including conduct- ing the necessary background checks," said city spokesman Mike Vigneaux. e Usual stayed open about two months aer Perry was indicted. Drug money, part 2 One month later, Gala and business partner Joseph Herman reopened the space as e Chameleon, saying the new restaurant would offer a rotating season- al menu starting with barbecue. Gala's career as a restaurant owner was short lived, as e Chameleon closed abruptly in November, six weeks aer Perry agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him in exchange for a 14- to 16-year prison sentence. e plea deal included Perry forfeiting his prop- erties to the federal government. Gala and Herman have since been charged with using more than $200,000 in drug proceeds hidden from law enforcement in a Northborough storage locker to open e Chameleon. Gala is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and a crim- inal forfeiture allegation, and Herman is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, making false state- ments to investigators, witness tamper- ing and a criminal forfeiture allegation. Both have pleaded not guilty. A fourth individual, Christopher Slavinskas, was charged in March with lying to investigators about concealing at least $330,000 of the drug proceeds and personally spending a portion of it. Slavinskas pleaded guilty, forcing two Worcester restaurants he had the license for – Broth and e Hangover Pub in the Canal District – to close. Its highest and best use For restaurant owners on the street, it's a shame one of the street's most historically busiest restaurants is now a black mark on the city's thriving restau- rant scene, said Piccolo. e instability does the area no good. "I'd like to see something in there," Piccolo said. Earlier this month, a federal judge gave go ahead to the U.S. Department of Justice to sell 166 Shrewsbury St., leaving open the possibility of the property returning to the restaurant scene. Sharyn Williams, vice president for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, said in an email the space shouldn't be vacant much longer. "Anytime there is a commercial va- cancy anywhere in the city, we hope that it will be filled soon," Williams said. "We feel strongly that this prime location on what has been dubbed Restaurant Row will not remain vacant for long." Today, the restaurant appears as if the doors could be unlocked and kitchen fired up immediately. Napkins and sil- verware still lays atop dinner tables and most chairs seem to still be in place. Despite a limited parking, the space represents incredible untapped potential. "e highest and best use for it is a restaurant," Covino said. Mezcal was the first of two Niche restaurants at 166 Shrewsbury St. W

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