3 days ago
Foley restaurant part of labor exploitation investigation: DOJ
FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG) — A Foley restaurant is one of five establishments involved in a labor exploitation investigation that originated in Arizona, according to the Department of Justice.
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Officials said Homeland Security investigators executed federal search warrants at 12 homes and five Colt Grill restaurants located in Arizona and Alabama.
A five-count indictment was issued against four people living in Arizona in connection with the exploitation investigation, according to officials.
Brenda and Robert Clouston, both 61 and from northern Arizona, along with 33-year-old Luis Pedro Rogel-Jaimes and 29-year-old Iris Romero-Molina, both Mexican nationals and allegedly in the country illegally, were indicted for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to unlawfully enter the United States, and pattern and practice of knowingly employing unauthorized aliens.
DOJ officials said the Cloustons own four Colt Grill restaurants in Arizona, as well as the one in Foley.
What the federal indictment says
The indictment claims that the Cloustons, Rogel-Jaimes and Romero-Molina created a cleaning company that would 'operate as a staffing company' for the restaurants.
Through this cleaning company, the four suspects would allegedly find undocumented workers to run the restaurants. They would pay these workers less than minimum wage and did not pay them for their overtime, according to the indictment.
The four allegedly did not pay employment taxes for the workers.
They were all arrested on Tuesday, July 15, during the execution of the search warrants.
Officers also arrested multiple people who were in the country illegally for 'criminal or administrative immigration violations,' according to officials.
'The success of this investigation is in large part due to the coordinated efforts of many law enforcement agencies working alongside HSI through the Homeland Security Task Forces,' said Ray Rede, acting special agent in charge for HSI Arizona.
'This multiyear case involving several federal charges is a testament of our commitment to combating crime that has true impact to communities.'
Most of the charges against the four suspects each carry a 10-year maximum sentence and up to a $250,000 fine.
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The charge of pattern and practice of knowingly employing unauthorized aliens carries a six-month maximum penalty and up to $3,000 in fines.
Debbie Williams contributed to this report.
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