Scianna’s attorney denies theft allegations
Staff report
BOARDMAN
Atty. Brian Kopp vehemently denied Chad Scianna misappropriated funds from the Chad Anthony’s restaurant chain.
Kopp said Thursday the allegations made against his client by former business partners are baseless.
The Austintown Police Department is investigating claims made by Tim Merlin, co-owner of the restaurant chain, that more than $33,000 was stolen by his former business partner.
“Chad Scianna and his partners reached an agreement several weeks back for the buyout of [Scianna’s] interest in the restaurant chain,” Kopp said in a statement. “Instead of paying [Scianna] the money due him, his former associates concocted this story for one reason and one reason only: to avoid paying my client money they owe him.”
Scianna, whose name was redacted from the police report, is accused of entering into agreements with coupon promotions Valley Deals 365, affiliated with The Vindicator and 21 WFMJ-TV, and My Valley Deals, affiliated with WYTV.
Merlin told police Chad Anthony’s officials never received the $33,000 that was paid to the LLC, claiming Scianna had the restaurant’s share of the revenue from the sale of the coupons deposited to two business accounts with a post office box on Lockwood Boulevard in Boardman.
While Merlin told police his business did not receive those funds, Kopp contends the business partners knew of the promotion and the financial arrangement.
“The filing of a false complaint is a serious matter, and we intend to use all available legal means to protect [Scianna’s] reputation and to see that he is paid the money owed him,” Kopp said.
Chad Anthony’s is a local Italian restaurant with locations in Liberty, Austintown and Salem. The Boardman location closed last week because of area competition affecting the business.
Scianna told The Vindicator he left Chad Anthony’s in January.