Former Sam’s Steakhouse general manager Mark Erney has landed a spot in a federal diversion program that could keep him out of prison in a case accusing him and a onetime co-worker of siphoning more than $1.4 million from the South County institution. The move has infuriated the restaurant’s owners, who argue the deal lets a suspected mastermind escape with too light a consequence.
Patrick Long, whose father helped turn Sam’s into a neighborhood fixture, told St. Louis Magazine that no one consulted him about the diversion agreement. He said he was “livid” and predicted the resolution “is going to be swept under the rug.” The outlet reports Erney formally entered the diversion arrangement in federal court and that, if he fulfills its conditions, he is expected to emerge from the case without an additional conviction on his record.
Federal prosecutors previously said Erney and longtime bookkeeper Matthew Braasch used company credit cards for personal spending over roughly five years and then turned to loans to plug the gaps. According to an indictment outlining a five-year credit-card scheme, the alleged losses topped $1.4 million and left Sam’s unable to cover taxes and even routine operating costs.
Sam’s, just outside Crestwood, is a longtime staple where Erney had been a familiar face behind the bar and on the dining room floor. A feature in the Riverfront Times traced the restaurant’s history and described Erney’s hands-on role overseeing daily operations before federal investigators began scrutinizing the books.
St. Louis Magazine also reports that Braasch has pleaded guilty, admitting that he and Erney defrauded the business of “more than $550,000.” Prosecutors pointed to spending that included a Disney vacation, $5,425 in St. Louis Cardinals tickets and multiple furniture purchases. The magazine notes that Braasch is scheduled to be sentenced later this month. Erney’s defense attorney declined to comment, and the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case did not respond to requests for comment.
What the diversion means
In the Eastern District of Missouri, a pretrial diversion agreement functions as a formal contract between federal prosecutors and a defendant. It typically involves a set period of reporting, supervision and restitution, usually about 12 months and sometimes up to 18. According to the district’s pretrial services office, diversion can include conditions such as electronic monitoring, travel limits and required repayment to victims. If a participant successfully completes the program, prosecution is often deferred or dismissed.
What’s next
Braasch is expected to learn his punishment later this month, and the owners of Sam’s say they intend to be in the courtroom to push for accountability. For Erney, the outcome now hinges on whether he meets the undisclosed terms of his diversion deal and whether the restitution and supervision satisfy federal prosecutors and creditors who were left with unpaid bills.
