Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury convicted Parsippany restaurant owner Spyridon Gizas, 52, of 10 ten counts for his role in a credit card fraud scheme.
The jury deliberated for an hour before finding, Gizas, the owner of Harold’s Deli in Parsippany, guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, four counts of credit card fraud and four counts of theft by deception.
On Oct. 16 and Oct. 17, 2009 Gizas charged nearly $40,000 to American Express using stolen credit card numbers, according to Assistant Prosecutor Portia Downing, who tried the case.
American Express paid the bills within 48 to 72 hours, as is the company’s practice, but when the customers received the charges they called the credit card company and said they had never made purchases at the deli, Assistant Prosecutor Downing said.
Gizas, who list addresses in Hopatcong and Parsippany, is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2012 by the Honorable Peter J. Vazquez, J.S.C. Gizas faces three to five years on each count. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office will seek the maximum penalty because Gizas has three prior felony convictions.
“We are pleased with the result. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office take financial fraud crimes very seriously and will continue to pursue them vigorously,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Downing.
