June 8th, 2012
Posted in OHIO – A Northwest Ohio IHOP mogul was arrested for his role in an immigration scheme.
According to authorities, Tarek Elkafrawi, who owns six IHOPs in Ohio and one in Indiana, hired illegal immigrants to work at his businesses.
Immigration agents first caught wind of the scam in September, when federal authorities raided Elkafrawi’s restaurants, walking out with boxes of immigration-related documents.
At the time of the raid, the agents would not reveal the purpose of the investigation, but according to the Sandusky Register, the owner and 18 others were arrested this week on charges of money laundering, identity theft and mail fraud.
Authorities explain that Elkafrawi and his managers would knowingly hire illegal immigrants, then withheld their overtime pay. The scam allowed the managers to underreport their income so the establishments could pay lower workers compensation.
Elkafrawi made roughly $3 million off the scam.
But this isn’t Elkafrawi’s first scheme. Federal agents say he and another man burned down an IHOP in Findlay in 2008, and collected $1.3 million on the claim.
When it comes to immigration matters, things can get very complicated. Unfortunately, immigrants face a tough time in the U.S., especially after recent state laws have been enacted that target illegal immigrants. Luckily, help is available to all foreigners for assistance with any immigration-related issue in Ohio. Speak to a leading immigration attorney right away to discuss your options and file a case.
Ohio immigration lawyers handle a variety of cases, including applying for a work visa or green card, family reunification and even criminal cases. They will handle all aspects of your case, including paperwork and phone calls, and make sure it ends with the best possible outcome.
Call the offices of a team of Ohio immigration attorneys today.
Tags: Applying For A Work Visa, Best Possible Outcome, Family Reunification, Federal Agents, Federal Authorities, Findlay, Ihop, Illegal Immigrants, Immigration Agents, Immigration Attorney, Immigration Attorneys, Immigration Lawyers, Immigration Matters, Immigration Scheme, Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, Northwest Ohio, Sandusky Register, State Laws, Target