BROOKLYN – Greek-American Anastasios Verteouris, co-owner and manager of Nature’s Grill, a popular Brooklyn-based health food chain, was arrested on Jan. 26 for “secretly slinging drugs for four years, prosecutors allege,” Brooklyn Paper (BP) reported on March 22.

Nature’s Grill has locations in Bay Ridge, Carroll Gardens, and Staten Island. Verteouris  was charged with “conspiracy to distribute controlled substances between the years of 2014 and 2018,” BP reported.

“Federal prosecutors demand that Verteouris, also known as Tasos, forfeit all proceeds derived from purportedly selling oxycodone, oxymorphone, morphine sulfate and amphetamines, court documents say, and he’ll require the release of other property to reach the set value,” BP reported.

“Verteouris’ family founded Nature’s Grill in 2001 with a mission ‘to introduce heart-healthy gourmet options’ and ‘to promote a healthy lifestyle of body and mind,’ according to Verteouris’ Linkedin page,” BP reported. 

Verteouris’ lawyer, Arthur Aidala of Manhattan-based law firm Aidala, Bertuna and Kamins, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, BP reported.

Verteouris “posted a $100,000 prison release bond using his Staten Island home as collateral, according to court documents,” BP reported, adding that “he was set to appear before the court in a telephone conference on March 23, but that hearing has since been rescheduled for May 26.”