Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided multiple Mexican restaurants across Alabama on Tuesday while searching for Cesar Campos Reyes, who was wanted for alleged fraudulent use of the Paycheck Protection Program through the federal government.
Kevin Davidson, acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, said at a press conference in Auburn on Tuesday afternoon that 14 locations were searched in Lee, Macon, Elmore, Autauga, Crenshaw and Baldwin Counties.
Reyes, who was wanted for four counts of bank fraud and four counts of wire fraud and money laundering for paycheck protection program loans he received for some of his restaurants, was later arrested.
Some of the raids happened at El Patron locations in Wetumpka, Prattville, and Deatsville.
During the raids at the Mexican restaurants, distribution amounts of methamphetamine, powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and assorted pills were discovered. Law enforcement also discovered more than $100,000 in cash and at least 20 guns. The FBI, Department of Corrections, ALEA, Drug Enforcement Administration and other local authorities were involved in the searches.
Law enforcement encountered 40 illegal aliens who were detained during the searches.
"As you can see, this investigation is wide-ranging with white collar crimes, drug crimes, gun crimes, harboring of illegal aliens, among other crimes. It involves searches and investigations that are still ongoing," Davidson said.
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