Lunch at several Zipps Sports Grill spots across the Valley came with a heavy side of federal law enforcement on Monday, as agents with Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection hit multiple locations in a coordinated sweep.
Agents were seen at the Arcadia restaurant near 36th Street and Indian School Road and at the Scottsdale location at Miller and Camelback, with activity stretching through the afternoon as part of a wider operation.
What officials say
Homeland Security Investigations told local media the action is part of a months-long criminal investigation with federal partners. Agents executed federal search warrants at 15 locations across the Phoenix area, targeting alleged felony violations of federal law.
The agency said a federal judge authorized the warrants based on information presented to the court, and described Monday’s operation as focused on gathering evidence, according to ABC15.
Zipps' footprint
Zipps is a family-owned, Valley-based sports bar group with multiple neighborhood restaurants across the Phoenix metro area. The company says it has been operating in the region since the 1990s, with locations in Arcadia, Scottsdale, and other Phoenix neighborhoods, according to Zipps Sports Grill.
Legal context
Search warrants allow investigators to enter locations and seize records or other potential evidence, but they do not by themselves mean criminal charges have been filed or that anyone has been convicted.
HSI said the warrants were approved by a federal judge and declined to release additional details while the operation was underway, as reported by ABC15.
What to watch
It is not yet clear whether the searches will result in arrests or indictments. Federal cases often unfold over weeks or months before any public charges appear on the docket, and officials have not given a timeline for when more information might be released.
Investigators could keep a tight lid on specifics while they sift through whatever material was seized in Monday’s operation.
