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Dallas Jet Setter/Scam Man, Mordan Stefanov, is Behind Bars

Posted on January 22nd, 2010 12:30am by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Food Crime, Restaurant News

mordanRemember when we talked about chef Christopher Short leaving the kitchen at Bella in Uptown? Then there was the odd January 6 press release:

SFR International Magazine Previews BELLA BOYZ at Bella Bar & Restaurant Grand Re-Opening; Party Set for Jan. 8

Red Carpet Arrival with Heidi Dillon, co-host of The Fashionistas
DALLAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ –
WHAT:  Join Dallas’ hottest celebration this weekend by walking the red carpet with host Heidi Dillon of The Fashionistas. Meet the three stars of the new Dallas-based reality television show, “Bella Boyz” starring Robert “Peach” Petrie, Anthony “Tony” Porcaro and Mordan Stefanov. At the A-list event sponsored by SFR International Magazine and Bella Events, guests will find out the winner of the SFR News Casting Call. In addition, Bella Bar & Restaurant unveils its new makeover and SFR International Magazine will debut its Spring issue to partygoers.
WHO:  “Bella Boyz”, SFR Television’s hottest new reality series (set to release in Spring 2010) takes a look into the lives of the Dallas elite – the extreme, crazy, power-filled, sexy lives of the three men running hotspot Bella Bar & Restaurant in Uptown, Dallas. Follow powerhouses Robert “Peach” Petrie, Tony Porcaro, and Mordan Stefanov as they make magic happen among the crowds filling the dance floor and red carpets at Bella. SFR Daily is an international online news publication providing cutting edge coverage of the latest fashion, entertainment, gossip, society, political and world news on a daily basis.

I just got word that  Mordan Stefanov/Michael A. Manos is behind different kind of bars tonight.  He has been arrested in San Francisco. Apparently, Mr. Stefanov/Manos, a convicted felon out on parole, pretended to be a rich aristocrat and scammed dozens of Dallas folks. (More details here .) I’m waiting for callbacks on details but there is a Facebook page “Stop Michael De Medici,” which I assume is another  alias, with more info and photos. They are asking people who’ve dealt with this man to post their stories and contact information. (H/T DV)

I reached Bella owner Tony Porcaro a little before midnight on Thursday. He said, “There is no reality TV show. I would know because I would be on it.” I asked him if he knew Heidi Dillion. “Yes, I am doing a party for her on Saturday night.” I asked him if he knew Mordan Stefanov and he said, “I appreciate you calling Miss Nichols but I don’t have anything to say to you.”

UPDATE: Porcaro  just called back and said, “It’s been all over CNN. He’s been arrested.  I’m just trying to run a business here.” I get that Porcaro is a victim and Bella is moving forward with their new menu and format.

UPDATE: Video report on WFAA.

UPDATE: Sweet Charity is on the case. Comments from Heidi Dillon. And other deets.

24 comments

  1. He looks like a made-over Michael Costa.

    @ 7:52 am on January 22, 2010

  2. Is that a photo of Ashley Or Mary-Kate. Darn, I can’t tell them apart.

    @ 8:16 am on January 22, 2010

  3. This is the biggest Bella scandal since # gave the restaurant four stars!

    @ 9:33 am on January 22, 2010

  4. Thank you @Pappa Rasti. Thar 4 stars for Bella still bothers me. I usually agree with Lelsie at DMN but she was WAY off on this one.

    @ 9:39 am on January 22, 2010

  5. I tried the new Bella Italian menu last week, and the food was AMAZING! If you haven’t been lately, they’ve completely remodeled the place with a new look and new menu.

    No matter what happens, the guys at Bella work VERY hard, and have the best customer service in Dallas. How often do the owners greet you at the door and truly care about your experience at their restaurant? It’s unfortunate this has happened to such nice guys, but any PR is good PR, right? This too shall pass, and Bella will come out ahead, stronger than ever. Hang in there! :)

    @ 10:03 am on January 22, 2010

  6. He looks like Bruno’s long lost love child! It’s hard to believe that he was able to do what he’s done to so many people. I doubt he will be able to maintain that hair behind bars….

    @ 10:21 am on January 22, 2010

  7. No one could tell this guy is a fraud just by looking at him? Nothing about him is authentic. Best of luck to Bella – hate to see people get duped by people like this freak.

    @ 10:24 am on January 22, 2010

  8. The fake wall behind his fake ear says “Trace”. is that a fake restaurant too?

    @ 10:33 am on January 22, 2010

  9. Man I’m really bummed. I was all ready to podcast the show.

    http://sfr-television.com/BellaBoyz.htm

    @ 10:50 am on January 22, 2010

  10. this actually bums me out a bit. I have never been to Bella, but I feel bad that these guys have been made to look like naive chumps. They should have known better, but I still feel yucky. When this story first went up,http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2010/01/09/bella-reopening-beaut-or-bust-for-fashionistas/, I spent about 10 minutes googling the names, faces, addresses and snuffed out a shockingly obvious fraud. How did THIS guy manage to con hard working, seasoned restaurateurs? I’m sure the Bella Boyz are plenty embarrassed, so to them I say, hang in there and put the focus back on great food and service.

    @ 11:28 am on January 22, 2010

  11. That Mordan guy actually submitted numberous wikipedia articles citing his name and “royal blood line”. When it comes to the actual Bella boys (Tony and Peach), all they wanted to do from Day-1 is run a restaurant. They were going to partner with Mordan but there were never any contracts signed. He was supposed to help bring in people to the restaurant, and in exchange, they would allow him to host his events in the restaurant.

    Mordan was a steamroller of sorts. He would just have “off-the-wall” ideas and then run with them full force. One day, he told the Bella guys about a reality show… the next day he had camera guys following them around. These guys just wanted to remodel the restaurant and do their own thing (like they are popular for) and Mordan turned everything into a circus. The worst part; half the people “Mordan” brought out to the parties/events were trash. Dallas thousandaires. I’m personally glad Bella is back to its upscale roots.

    Oh and the Italian cuisine is pretty righteous. A Must-Try.

    @ 12:24 pm on January 22, 2010

  12. this is the funniest damn thing; we have been laughing at this all day at work…seems even the rich who got duped by this guy still have a little robin leach/tmz on their sholders calling the shots…

    @ 1:03 pm on January 22, 2010

  13. I spoke to Heidi this morning and she had this to say: “I had the full scoop on Mordan, and knew he was a crook right after the new year. I did not know how bad of a crook he was. I could tell
    by his clothes and jewelry that he was not rich. As for Bella, we go there two or three times a month. Their food is terrific. We planned a party for the Fashionistas. My deal was all about Bella [not Mordan] because I’m good friends with Peach and
    Tony. I just thought, I’m going to get through this party, and then not be involved with him going forward. We collected money for the Fashionistas (thefashionistas.org) and had a wonderful time. The place was packed and hopping. Bottom line, Bella has been a great supporter and we plan to do more events with them. Peach and Tony are close personal friends of mine and my family. I love the decor and food. I’m all about turning anything negative into a positive. My heart goes out to the people who have been hurt by him, fortunately the fashionistas were not.”

    @ 1:47 pm on January 22, 2010

  14. Peach? You mean Rob Petrie, writer for the Alan Brady Show?

    It just keeps getting better.

    @ 2:26 pm on January 22, 2010

  15. I found the unairbrushed pic of the one above.

    http://www.celebritysmackblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/27635pcn_plan09-698×1024.jpg

    @ 3:09 pm on January 22, 2010

  16. So relieved to know that our revered sexy- slueth Heidi has mastered the obvious. A seven year old would know to run the other way…fast! This man makes another well-recognized male-Dallas diva with the initials of G.A. look like a brute!

    @ 4:28 pm on January 22, 2010

  17. This is a joke the place is a JOKE, the food is way off, it looks like the Jack Daniels Club at AAC. They do nothing well not food, not drinks, not atmosphere just another example of the fact that the people who hang out in Uptown have no style, no taste and are clueless followers, YEAH DALLAS, wheres J.R?

    @ 5:37 pm on January 22, 2010

  18. @Josh, that is priceless!

    I laughed so hard I think I tinkled a little…

    @ 7:34 pm on January 22, 2010

  19. Whoop Dee damn Doo. More “look at me” Dallas BS. So sick of this city trying to be LA. None of the classiest people in this city are even remotely connected to all the douchebaggery that has overun this city. It’s so gross.

    @ 7:45 pm on January 22, 2010

  20. I just heard about this tonight and I cant keep my mouth shut. Have you people met these guys. Tony Pacaro is a great guy, but a true racist at heart – good ol Italian style. Rob “Peach” Petrie is nothing but a hood; a glorified lacky bartender – he knows nothing about the restaurant business and is the reason this place is having difficulties. Christopher Short was the man, his food was impeccable and if it weren’t for Pacaro’s know-how, the place would already be dust. When Short left, he left a big hole. In comes another lacky, Michael Abruzi, the worst… well you cant call him a Chef, unless Chefs make Dog food. My understanding is that Abruzi is now history and a sous chef is handling the Menu. I understand it isnt half bad, but italian food isnt hard folks!! The fact is this: Who cares who got who where. True socialites do not go to BELLA. They may try it, but they stick to the staples where people have class and dont line up next to your table to go to the bathroom. Bella is a bar for the outer-city white trash of Dallas wannabe’s.

    @ 12:32 am on January 23, 2010

  21. speaking of racism, Old Money’s comment gets nominated: “a true racist at heart – good ol Italian style.”

    @ 1:18 pm on January 24, 2010

  22. Bella rocks, we r glad the Mordan character is busted. I will take the food and atmosphere over the N& S crowd and the fake cop anyday. The grill and pin stripe suits around the corner makes me sick, I am happy hopeful and investing in Bella.

    @ 7:21 am on January 25, 2010

  23. he asked TJ’s to cater a 200 person monte-carlo themed halloween party for free in exchange for being introduced to the who’s who of dallas. which i found odd as he didn’t leave here at the time.

    i politely turned him down.

    ” So sick of this city trying to be LA. None of the classiest people in this city are even remotely connected to all the douchebaggery that has overun this city. It’s so gross.”

    thank you…i can’t wait to repeat this line every chance i get.

    @ 6:50 pm on January 28, 2010

  24. Almost scammed by him. Thanks to Elizabeth for looking out for our small company. Hats off the the Bella Boys for handling this well. I see it as a potential to leverage a positive brand. Continued success to Peach and Tony!

    Cheers,
    Mike Stewart

    the SEO dude who got to meet Billy Zane at Bella! —- sorta cool?!? lol

    @ 6:16 pm on February 15, 2010