WORCESTER – A federal court judge sentenced Joseph Herman, 37, of Worcester, the former manager of The Usual Restaurant, to 22 months in prison on Friday, November 20.
Herman admitted that between May and September 2017 he was a co-conspirator, with Stacey Gala, to launder proceeds of illegal drug sales. The proceeds were used to renovate and re-open the restaurant as The Chameleon.
Herman also admitted that he lied to federal investigators about the source of the funds used to renovate the restaurant and attempted to convince another witness to provide false testimony about Herman’s involvement in the money laundering scheme.
In October 2017 a federal judge sentenced Gala’s husband, Kevin Perry Jr., to 14 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to money laundering and drug distribution charges.
In September 2020, a federal judge sentenced Gala to time served and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.