This looks like a big one:
The operators of
Arizona's Colt Grill restaurants are facing charges for their alleged employment practices, according to a criminal indictment filed in federal court.
On Tuesday, law enforcement officials were seen executing several search warrants throughout Yavapai County as part of a years-long investigation into allegations of money laundering and labor exploitation. Homeland Security Investigations said four people were arrested and over 20 immigration-related arrests were conducted.
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Starting in 2022, a plan was allegedly put in place whereby Romero-Molina and Rogel-Jaimes would allegedly "acquire" undocumented workers from Mexico to work at Colt locations. Robert Clouston allegedly signed leases for properties to house the undocumented workers and provided transportation for them to get to work, according to the indictment.
The document alleges Robert Clouston instructed managers of a Colt location to fire employees to "create employment opportunities for undocumented Mexican nationals for the purpose of having less expensive labor costs."
Federal investigators claim the undocumented workers were allegedly paid compensation below the legal minimum wage and weren't given overtime wages.
The indictment states the Cloustons allegedly "avoided paying an accurate minimum wage, time and a half wage, and required taxes in an amount beneficial to them between at least approximately September 27, 2022, and June 2024."
According to the indictment, the Cloustons deliberately avoided using E-Verify, the federally mandated system used by employers to confirm an individual’s legal authorization to work in the U.S. Instead, investigators say the couple recruited Mexican nationals to work in their restaurants.
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An owner of Colt Grill allegedly told a manager not to worry about calculating pay, taxes and worker’s compensation.
www.al.com
A day after
multiple federal and local agencies raided restaurants across Alabama, a newly unsealed federal indictment linked one of the target venues to an alleged scheme to hire, transport and house undocumented immigrant workers in another state.
Tuesday’s actions took place at 14 locations in six Alabama counties and involved federal search warrants related to drug trafficking, human smuggling, document fraud and financial crimes.
Cesar Campos-Reyes, a 52-year-old Lee County resident described as the owner of five restaurants, surrendered late Tuesday on charges of bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. He
pleaded not guilty on Friday.
Authorities said more than 40 people believed to be undocumented workers were taken into custody.
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A Tuesday raid on Colt Grill BBQ & Spirits in Foley had some elements that made it stand out from the day’s other actions.
For one thing, Colt is a barbecue chain, not a Mexican restaurant.
For another, its four sister restaurants in Arizona also were raided, in a case that officials described as “a complex criminal investigation involving alleged criminal activity including money laundering and labor exploitation.”
A statement from Homeland Security Investigations said that investigation had been under way for three years.
Colt Grill was founded in Arizona by Brenda Marie Clouston and her husband, Robert Clouston.
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Prosecutors allege that Robert Clouston, Rogel-Jaimes and Romero-Molina agreed on a scheme to bring in undocumented workers via a shell company so that Colt Grill could dodge requirements to verify that they were able to work legally.
The indictment says Robert Clouston leased several residences to house those workers and acquired vehicles to transport them to work.
The Cloustons allegedly paid their two partners and/or their shell company, with a portion of that money going to the employees.
The indictment makes several specific allegations that depict Robert Clouston as being actively and deeply involved in the illegal activity:
He allegedly told a Colt Grill manager not to worry about calculating pay, taxes and worker’s compensation for some new hires because they were “Pedro’s people,” an apparent reference to Rogel-Jaimes.
He allegedly was seen handing cash to Rogel-Jaimes “while shaking hands and discussing bringing more Mexican national workers up from Mexico.”
He allegedly “instructed two managers with the Sedona location to fire United States citizen employees in the Sedona Colt Grill to create employment openings for undocumented Mexican nationals for the purpose of having less expensive labor costs.”
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Guy has a long history of being a shithead.
The owner of Robert’s Restaurant and Wine Bar has been ordered to pay approximately $327,000 in restitution for a scheme in which he stole from a 99-year-old woman. [Tribune] Robert Clouston, 51, r…
calcoastnews.com
The owner of Robert’s Restaurant and Wine Bar has been ordered to pay approximately $327,000 in restitution for a scheme in which he stole from a 99-year-old woman. [
Tribune]
Robert Clouston, 51, received the restitution order last week and is due back in court Thursday to discuss the issue. Clouston previously pleaded no contest to two felony counts of theft from an elderly person with a special allegation of white-collar crime.
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