DOJ Charges Restaurant Owners in Multi-State Illegal Alien Conspiracy [WATCH]

Four individuals tied to a regional restaurant chain operating in Alabama and Arizona are facing federal charges following a multiyear investigation into allegations of employing illegal aliens and circumventing labor laws.

On May 27, 2025, a federal grand jury in Phoenix, Arizona, returned a five-count indictment against Robert Clouston and Brenda Clouston, both 61, of northern Arizona, along with Luis Pedro Rogel-Jaimes, 33, and Iris Romero-Molina, 29, both Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States.

The charges include 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.

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According to the indictment announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, the Cloustons are accused of operating five Colt Grill BBQ & Spirits locations in the cities of Cottonwood, Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Sedona, Arizona, as well as in Foley, Alabama.

The charges stem from a three-year investigation into labor exploitation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and partner agencies.

Federal authorities allege that in September 2022, the Cloustons, together with Rogel-Jaimes and Romero-Molina, devised a scheme to use a cleaning company as a cover to recruit and hire illegal aliens to work at the restaurant locations.

Romero-Molina is accused of creating a business entity named R&R AZ Cleaning, which prosecutors allege functioned as a front company to conceal the employment of unauthorized workers.

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According to the indictment, Rogel-Jaimes and Romero-Molina actively sought out illegal aliens to work in Colt Grill restaurants through R&R AZ Cleaning, where the workers were paid less than minimum wage and denied overtime compensation.

The two are also alleged to have avoided paying required employment taxes on the wages of the illegal workforce.

The arrests occurred on July 15, 2025, as federal agents executed search warrants at all five Colt Grill locations and at 12 residences across Alabama and Arizona.

In the process, federal officials also apprehended several additional illegal aliens for criminal or administrative immigration violations. All four defendants were taken into custody without incident.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Timothy Courchaine emphasized the joint effort involved in the case.

“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,” he said.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is grateful to HSI for their hard work on this investigation and extremely appreciative to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office for their support and willingness to keep their community safe from bad actors.”

Ray Rede, acting special agent in charge for HSI Arizona, echoed that sentiment.

“This multiyear case involving several federal charges is a testament of our commitment to combatting crime that has true impact to communities. I thank everyone involved – this case was true team effort,” he said.

The four defendants face serious legal consequences.

The charges of conspiracy to transport, harbor, and induce illegal aliens each carry maximum prison sentences of up to 10 years.

The charge of Pattern and Practice of Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens carries a penalty of up to six months in prison and fines of up to $3,000 per unauthorized worker.

The enforcement operation was conducted under Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at repelling illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting American communities from associated crimes.