Latest news with #ColtGrill
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
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. Foley woman sentenced in mother's 2023 murder 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. Bay Minette is getting a new retail space: what to know about 31 Commons 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Downtown Foley restaurant under federal investigation for alleged money laundering, human smuggling, labor exploitation
UPDATE (7:00 p.m.): A popular barbecue restaurant in downtown Foley is now under a federal investigation for alleged illicit money laundering, human smuggling, and labor exploitation. Police and federal agents surrounded the Colt Grill off of West Laurel Avenue and Alston Street in Downtown Foley around 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. This restaurant is one of several locations tied to Colt Grill, a barbecue chain based in Arizona. The chain is now the focus of a complex criminal investigation, according to deputies with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office in Arizona. They said the allegations of money laundering and labor exploitation are tied to all locations of the Colt Grill. Each restaurant location was raided by federal agents on Tuesday. According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, agents executed 28 federal search warrants and 4 federal arrest warrants across the two states. 'Today's planned enforcement activity resulted in the arrest of four targets who are alleged to have participated in money laundering among other charges,' a post from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said. 'Over 20 immigration related arrests also took place, but that number has not been finalized as interviews are ongoing.' It is unclear if any of these arrests occurred in Foley. The post explains this operation is the result of a three-year long federal investigation. During the raid in Foley, WKRG News 5 did not see anyone being arrested or led away from the building. Agents were seen removing several boxes and files from the restaurant. Agents with Homeland Security said this is a part of an ongoing federal investigation with the Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force and more developments and charges could be coming. This is a developing story. FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG) — The Foley Police Department assisted Homeland Security Investigations with a search warrant at Colt Grill in Foley on Tuesday, according to a release from the Foley Police Department. At around 12:45 p.m., the FPD and HSI served a search warrant on Colt Grill in regard to a criminal investigation of alleged money laundering and labor exploitation, News 5 has learned. Bodies of Mobile woman, granddaughter found after Texas floods 'We do not tolerate criminal activity of any kind, especially in our Foley businesses,' Mayor of Foley Ralph Hellmich said. This is an ongoing investigation and will be updated as necessary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
