Diner manager charged with plotting murder of uncle, who co-owns restaurants in NJ, NYC

TOTOWA, N.J. – The manager of a popular northern New Jersey diner has been charged in an alleged murder plot.

Authorities say 45-year-old Georgios Spyropoulos (speer-roh-POH'-lis), who manages the Tick Tock diner in Clifton, tried to have his uncle killed. His uncle is co-owner of the Tick Tock in New Jersey and the Tick Tock in Manhattan.

Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa (kee-AY'-sah) says investigators believe Spyropoulos wanted to steal a large amount of cash that his uncle, Alexandros Sgourdos (sah-GOR'-dohs), kept in a safe.

He says Spyropoulos told an undercover trooper posing as a hit man to make sure to get the combination to his uncle's safe before killing him. He also allegedly provided a gun.

The Clifton diner manager is held in lieu of $1 million bail. It wasn't known if he had a lawyer.