On Tuesday, a coordinated effort by several federal agencies, including Immigration Customs, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, led to raids at 14 locations across six counties in Alabama.
The focus of the operation was Cesar Campos-Reyes, a 52-year-old resident of Lee County, who faced federal charges in April for bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Interestingly, the charges had not been sealed prior to the raids.
Following the operation, Campos-Reyes seemed to turn himself in. Prosecutors indicated he might appear in federal court on Wednesday, though no hearing has been set as of now.
The indictment noted that at least one restaurant linked to Campos-Reyes was targeted. Specifically, he was connected to Pace and El Patron locations in Pensacola, along with two other restaurants: Mexican Grill in Mariaci and El Rey de Todos Mexican Grill and Cantina.
Previously, Elgev Mexican Cuisine in Auburn had also been included in the raids on Tuesday, which took place at Elle de Totos. The restaurant posted a message clarifying that they have no ties to Campos-Reyes and have been operating under new ownership since 2023. They expressed regret for the impact on their employees and their families.
In Prattville, an employee reported that an officer, donned in a mask and vest, entered the restaurant around 11 a.m. They mentioned that law enforcement had a search warrant but didn’t provide it as multiple arrests took place.
At least two individuals were arrested during the operations in Prattville, but neither seemed to be related to the restaurant employees nor to Campos-Reyes. Rather, one of them was detained for allegedly disrupting operations.
Across the state, additional arrests occurred, including two individuals apprehended for harboring illegal immigrants, with another arrested on drug trafficking allegations. At a press conference in Auburn later that day, federal officials revealed that methamphetamine and cocaine were discovered at one location, along with firearms and over $100,000 in cash. They did not clarify if the drugs and cash were obtained from the same site. Four individuals were detained by ICE as part of the operation.
Some of the other restaurants targeted were affiliated with the El Patron name, including those in Wetanka, Slapout, and Auburn, though it’s unclear whether they have any connections to Campos-Reyes.
Officials characterized the operation as part of a larger initiative to dismantle a transnational organized crime group, emphasizing that these offenses harm the community by undermining legitimate businesses and straining public resources. They noted that employing individuals unauthorized to work in the U.S. isn’t merely an employment issue—it’s a significant concern.
During the press conference, officials underlined that the raids were part of a multi-year investigation, mentioning a newly established task force linked to current developments during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The “US Gulf Homeland Security Task Force” was often highlighted. Officials had indicated to Propublica that this restructuring mainly stemmed from the influence of Stephen Miller, a key adviser to Trump on homeland security, who closely oversaw the project’s rollout.
In a related note, federal prosecutors touted “Operation Take Back America,” a wide-reaching initiative aimed at countering illegal immigration and dismantling drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. This operation was initiated in March.
Meeting officials informed the press that the search warrant for the raids would remain sealed as investigations continue, although more details may surface in the near future. Currently, no search warrants or court documents regarding violent crimes related to cross-border gangs and cartels have been made available to the public.
