U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with multiple state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, executed federal search warrants on July 15 at five Colt Grill restaurants and 12 residences across two states. This action followed a three-year investigation into labor exploitation and a five-count federal indictment against four individuals in Arizona. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office provided significant assistance in executing the search warrants.
"The success of this investigation is in large part due to the coordinated efforts of many law enforcement agencies working alongside HSI through the Homeland Security Task Forces," said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Arizona acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede. "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."
A grand jury in Phoenix returned an indictment on May 27 against Robert and Brenda Clouston, both 61, from northern Arizona, and Luis Pedro Rogel-Jaimes, 33, and Iris Romero-Molina, 29, both illegal aliens residing in Cottonwood, Arizona. They were charged with 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.
The indictment alleges that Robert and Brenda Clouston operated four Colt Grill restaurants in northern Arizona cities including Cottonwood, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Sedona, as well as one location in Foley, Alabama. In September 2022, they allegedly planned for Romero-Molina to create R&R AZ Cleaning as a staffing company for the restaurants. Rogel-Jaimes and Romero-Molina reportedly recruited undocumented workers for these establishments who were paid below minimum wage without overtime compensation through R&R AZ Cleaning using funds from Colt Grill.
All four indicted individuals were arrested on July 15 without incident. During the warrant execution process, law enforcement also arrested several undocumented illegal aliens for criminal or administrative immigration violations.
"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," said United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine. "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."
"On behalf of the citizens of Yavapai County," stated Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes," I want to thank our federal partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and all our local agencies for their collaboration with the men and women of Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office in dismantling this criminal enterprise."
Convictions related to conspiracy charges carry maximum penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment along with fines up to $250,000 per charge while knowingly employing unauthorized aliens carries potential six-month prison terms plus fines reaching $3k per employee.
An indictment serves merely as formal accusation regarding alleged criminal activities; defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt within judicial proceedings.
This case forms part under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative spearheaded by Department Justice aiming repelling illegal immigration invasions eliminating cartel transnational crime organizations ensuring public safety—integrating Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Project Safe Neighborhoods resources towards these goals effectively.
The prosecution will be handled by United States Attorney's Office District Arizona Phoenix division.
