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Ex-Crispers CEO Gets 2 Years For Embezzlement

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

TAMPA - David Haas, the former chief executive of Crispers restaurants, was sentenced Friday to two years in federal prison for embezzling more than $400,000 from his company.

"In my view, in this day and age, we need to send a clear message for those who are responsible for overseeing the financial well-being of corporate America that criminal fraud will not be tolerated," U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara said.

Before he was sentenced, Haas apologized for his crimes, saying, "I am remorseful. ...What I did was wrong. There's no doubt about it. What I did was wrong, and I take full responsibility for it."

Haas pleaded guilty in June to three counts of interstate transportation of stolen money in the form of wire transfers and a check from the restaurant chain owned by Lakeland-based Publix supermarkets.

Dennis Wamsley, director of loss prevention for Publix, asked for the maximum sentence, telling the judge Haas' actions "led to operational decisions that were wrong for Crispers and led to tangible negative results. ... The good names of Publix supermarkets and Crispers were tarnished."

The charges carry a maximum prison term of 10 years and fines of up to $250,000 on each count.

Haas - who served as interim chief executive officer of the Crispers chain in 2007 - also will have to pay restitution of $153,000, an amount Publix has not recovered.

According to the plea agreement, beginning that August, Haas three times directed a Crispers financial officer to transfer funds to accounts in New Jersey. In two of the cases, he maintained the transfers of $250,000 and $100,000 were connected with the purchase of a Crispers restaurant.

Once, he directed the financial officer to process a check for $53,750 to "HC, LLC." Haas said that was the executive search firm Hill & Cutler, which was assisting in the search for a permanent chief executive. The check was deposited into an account in the name of Haas Consulting LLC, which is controlled by Haas. Hill & Cutler never existed, according to the plea agreement.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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