New York Dennis Pappas, a convicted mob financier and former official of the Cipriani restaurant group, was sentenced to 1½ to 4½ years in prison for defrauding insurance companies and the Social Security Administration while working for the New York fine-dining company.
Pappas, who had risen to the position of vice president of Cipriani U.S.A., was convicted of falsely claiming that he was disabled while working off the books for Cipriani between June 2000 and April 2006. He pleaded guilty in May to attempted insurance fraud, and also must pay $1 million in restitution. Pappas had pleaded guilty in 1998 to racketeering charges.
Cipriani operates the Rainbow Room, Harry Cipriani on Fifth Avenue and Cipriani Dolci at Grand Central Station in New York.