Paul Rojek, 56

Syracuse, NY -- Paul Rojek was sentenced in August to 1 to 3 years in prison for stealing $41,000 worth of chicken wings from Twin Trees Too in Syracuse.

His son, Joshua Rojek, is getting five years of probation with 60 days' worth of weekends in jail for helping him.

Why did the son get off easier than the dad?

"The father was the primary mastermind behind the operation," prosecutor John Jensen said today in court.

Together, father and son diverted chicken wings from a supplier to sell on the black market -- such as the back of a pickup truck or a warehouse -- throughout Onondaga County. They stole the $41,000 worth of wings between February and late November 2015.

County Court Judge Anthony Aloi wasn't impressed.

"I think Mr. Jensen was more than complimentary in describing anybody in this as a 'mastermind,' the judge remarked today.

Still, he noted that Joshua Rojek did appear to play a supporting role in the scheme. He noted that the younger Rojek had no prior criminal record (his father had been caught in the same scam before from Dominick's Restaurant on Burnet Avenue).

Twin Trees Too's insurance had paid for all but about $6,000 of their loss, the judge said.

But the judge ordered the Rojeks -- doesn't matter father or son -- to pay back all $41,000 to the restaurant and the insurance company. To that end, Aloi only sentenced the younger Rojek to weekends in jail so he could make money during the week to pay restitution.

Joshua Rojek pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny and will begin his jail sentence this Friday.