“Bobby da Greek” Charged with Felony for Obtaining Money by False Pretenses

A man who claims to be the friend of officer Victor Decker, the police officer who was shot and killed in Virginia Beach, is accused of taking money meant for Decker’s family.
Charalampos Tsakpinis (photo), known as “Bobby da Greek”, was arrested Wednesday in Virginia Beach.  He was charged with a felony for obtaining money by false pretenses. He was in court Monday for an arraignment hearing.
Tsakpinis was released on a $1,000 secured bond.  He was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with Dawn Decker and her family via Facebook, texting, phone, etc. while the case is open.
Tsakpinis’ attorney Andrew Protogyrou told WAVY.com that Bobby is getting a bad wrap because the Norfolk Police Department is suffering from “raw emotions” and “frustration.” He said Bobby is being wrongly targeted.
According to Protogyrou, Bobby was friends with Decker but didn’t know Decker’s wife. He says Bobby was asked to be a “celebrity bartender” at the event in question.  The bar owners told Bobby to take the money after two nights and get it to the family.
Protogyrou further explained that Bobby got in touch with Dawn over Facebook and they tried for two weeks to set up a time to meet so Bobby could give her the money.

When the owner of the restaurant called the police because the money hadn’t been give to Dawn, the police went to Bobby’s father’s house. Bobby’s father called him and Bobby came over with the envelope (same one from the two nights of fundraising) and it still had every penny that was raised. No money was missing, Protogyrou said.
Bobby has cooperated with police the whole time, Protogyrou continued.
Tsakpinis reportedly told the organizers of a Decker family fundraiser last week that he was a family friend and would get the money to Dawn Decker, Victor Decker’s widow.  Police stated that she never got it.
On Tsakpinis’ Facebook page , his profile picture features a black badge with the name Victor Decker written on it. On his page, he defends himself against police accusations. One post reads: “Anybody who knows me knows I am not the monster the news and rumors have made me out to be. This is a huge misunderstanding and it’s causing my family so much pain,” said Tsakpinis.
Tsakpinis volunteered to bartend for a fundraiser at Stonehouse Lounge in Norfolk earlier this month.   More Facebook posts on his page show he was there. Organizers told police they raised $1,300 over two nights and then gave the money to Tsakpinis.
“We know that he volunteered to take the money that was raised and give it to Dawn. That was not done,” said Norfolk Police spokesperson Chris Amos.

Another Facebook post read: “I never said I was close with Victor’s family. I only knew of them from the pictures he had of them on his phone. He was my friend,” said Tsakpinis, “I only ever had intention of giving Dawn Decker the donations raised for her and her baby girl.”
WAVY.com wanted to know why police said he didn’t give the money to her yet. We knocked on the doors of two homes where we believe his family lives, and got no answers there or on the background check we conducted on him.
Police did get the money though.
“Those who gave money over those two days, fear not, we’re going to give what you gave and intended to give to Dawn and Charlotte. We’re going to get it to Dawn and Charlotte,” said Amos.
Police recovered the money shortly after Tsakpinis’ arrest, but have not said how the money was recovered.
Tsakpinis next court date is set for January 5th.