Campos Reyes Released on Bail After Judge’s Decision

Emotions ran high on Wednesday as a judge ruled against the U.S. government’s request to detain Cesar Campos Reyes while he awaits trial. I mean, you could really feel the relief in the room as tears were shed and hugs were exchanged.

At 52, Campos Reyes, a resident of Lee County, was taken into custody by federal agents last Tuesday. This followed a series of federal raids targeting eight local Mexican restaurants and six residential properties, all in connection with charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. He’s been a naturalized U.S. citizen for two decades, despite some confusion about his legal status brought up during last week’s news briefing.

The hearing on Wednesday in federal court focused on whether Campos Reyes should stay locked up until his trial in November. The government asserted that he posed a flight risk and a threat to the community. However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen M. Doyle expressed no concern that GPS tracking or similar measures couldn’t reasonably manage those risks.

Defense attorney Richard “Matt” Matthews Jr. brought in witnesses who testified to Campos Reyes’ strong ties to the community, arguing that this evidence implied he wasn’t a danger to anyone. Matthews seemed genuinely invested in his defense, even pleading for others to speak on his behalf.

Federal authorities have accused Campos Reyes of being linked to drug distribution involving cocaine and meth, particularly associated with Marco Antonio Guzman. Though much of the evidence was found at Guzman’s home, federal agents reported discovering $110,000 in cash at a residence where “illegal aliens” were present, along with $25,000 at Campos Reyes’ brother-in-law’s place. There were also claims of illegal cockfighting and other forms of gambling occurring on the property.

During the hearing, Kimberly Martin, a friend of Campos Reyes, testified that she, as a private investigator, delved into Guzman’s living situation. She recounted a “gentleman’s agreement” made during the sale of the ranch, which allowed Guzman to live there and care for the horses.

Despite not living on the ranch, Campos Reyes has familial ties to the area, and the prosecution suggested that undocumented workers were employed in his local restaurants.

Nicolas del Toro, an FBI special agent, outlined an alleged scheme by Campos Reyes that facilitated the entry of illegal aliens into the U.S. with the help of employees who testified about this arrangement. The prosecutor, Michelle Turner, described the situation as “sincere slavery,” which is a strong claim.

Interestingly, although these serious accusations are being thrown around, Campos Reyes hasn’t faced direct charges involving human trafficking or smuggling. And despite the cash tied to drug-related activities, it seems the prosecutors have yet to pursue formal charges related to those operations.

The government painted Campos Reyes as a flight risk, pointing to his frequent trips to Mexico and family connections in Atlanta. Turner argued that his evasiveness began early on.

Del Toro described a situation on July 15, the day multiple agencies raided Campos Reyes’ businesses and homes. He pointed out that Campos Reyes left one restaurant just moments before law enforcement arrived.

Cheryl Starkey testified that she worked for Campos Reyes as an accountant, though it wasn’t clear if she was a certified public accountant. Starkey has also been connected to multiple charges filed against Campos Reyes’ employees. Del Toro mentioned that Starkey conveyed receiving notifications about the impending raid while Campos Reyes was in her office and later left without warning. Prosecutors noted that Campos Reyes allegedly contacted Guzman, instructing him to stay put and not visit any of his businesses, before turning off his phone. He then reportedly spoke with Starkey again, perhaps about finding legal counsel.

Matthews countered by emphasizing that Campos Reyes was not trying to evade responsibility, highlighting an absence of any prior criminal record. But Turner shot back, saying it was only after Campos Reyes’ photo circulated widely that he took action.

As the hearing wound down, Matthews raised concerns about possible violations of the Fourth Amendment regarding the tracking of Campos Reyes’ phone.