Owners of the Colt Grill restaurants across northern Arizona and a location in Alabama are facing federal charges for alleged labor exploitation following a joint operation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and various local law enforcement agencies. The United States Attorney's Office reported that Robert and Brenda Clouston, both aged 61, along with Luis Pedro Rogel-Jaimes, 33, and Iris Romero-Molina, 29, have been indicted on multiple counts related to illegal employment practices.
According to the indictment, the Cloustons, alongside their Mexican national co-defendants, reportedly residing in the United States illegally, initiated a scheme through a shell cleaning company to staff their restaurants with undocumented workers paid below the statutory minimum wage. After executing the federal search warrants on July 15, law enforcement carried out arrests of the Cloustons, Rogel-Jaimes, and Romero-Molina without incident, also taking into custody several undocumented individuals for immigration-related offenses. Benefiting financially from the plan, they managed to pay these workers through R&R AZ Cleaning, which was funded by the restaurant's revenues, all while dodging proper employment taxes.
"Cooperation is the cornerstone for law enforcement in Arizona, and this case demonstrates the great outcome that comes from federal and local law enforcement working together," United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine praised the collaborative effort, as stated in the DOJ. Homeland Security Task Forces played a significant role in the multi-year investigation that led to the uncovering of this intricate employment scheme.
Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes expressed gratitude towards the federal partners and local agencies for their indispensable collaboration, which was crucial in dismantling what was characterized as a criminal enterprise. He stressed the importance of such joint enforcement actions to "protecting our communities from the destabilizing impacts of organized crime." Facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for most charges, and a six-month prison term coupled with up to a $3,000 fine per unauthorized employee for knowingly employing unauthorized aliens, the defendants will find their fates determined in a court of law. Held innocent until proven guilty, the forthcoming legal proceedings will reveal the weight of justice.
This case falls under "Operation Take Back America," a concerted national effort aiming to halt illegal immigration and to dismantle the influence of cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The DOJ leads this initiative, leveraging resources across its departments. The federal investigation into the employment practices of the Colts Grill restaurants was undertaken by HSI, with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office aiding in the execution of search warrants, and the prosecution is being managed by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
