5 Sandusky family members indicted for skimming more than $1.8M from restaurants

4/8/2013
BLADE STAFF

Five Sandusky family members have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges they skimmed more than $1.8 million in cash from three restaurants the family operates in the Sandusky area.

Indicted were Haralambos Gonos, 52; Andreas Gonos, 28; Chris Gonos, 31; Kryiakos Gonos, 30, and Sofia Skoura, 52.

According to the indictment, the four Gonos family members are charged with conspiracy to structure financial transactions to evade filing currency transaction reports for taking large amounts of cash from Dianna’s Deli, Dianna’s, and The Depot and making multiple deposits of cash just under the $10,000 threshold between 2007 and 2009.

Haralambos Gonos and an unindicted co-conspirator also are charged with structuring financial transactions to evade filing a Form 8300 between March, 2010, and November, 2011. Federal prosecutors say Mr. Gonos purchased a 2007 Mercedes and a 2005 Porsche Cayenne by using cash and cashier’s checks.

In the third count of the indictment, Haralambos Gonos and Ms. Skoura are charged with conspiring to engage in bulk cash smuggling in an attempt to transport currency outside the United States on or about Jan. 31, 2013. Prosecutors say they attempted to take more than $14,700 to Greece, where they maintain a residence.