Thread: Police raid IHOP locations in Toledo area

I am not sure if this is correct forum at the moment - article mentions illegal workers.

Police raid IHOP locations in Toledo area

Posted: Sep 20, 2011 8:27 AM CDT
Updated: Sep 20, 2011 9:01 AM CDT
By Lisa Strawbridge - email


(WTOL) - Seven IHOP locations were raided in the Toledo area Tuesday morning. The franchise locations are all owned by the same private company, an IHOP spokesperson confirms.

Locations that have been confirmed include:

-Talmadge Road in west Toledo

-Fremont-Pike location in Perrysburg

-Airport Highway

-Central Avenue

Those locations have officers and agents on scene in both marked and unmarked vehicles.

Homeland Security and the FBI are involved in a joint investigation with the Toledo Police Department assisting. They have only revealed so far that it is a closed investigation.

Homeland Security confirms search warrants were issued at 6 a.m. for various IHOP locations.

We have learned they are investigating terrorist accusations including money laundering as well possible illegal workers at many locations across the country right now. It is not yet known if all the locations nationally are IHOP restaurants.

We'll post more details as they come in.

http://www.wtol.com/story/15503721/police-raid-ihop


ALSO Evansville, IN

FBI agents at East Side IHOP
By Staff Report
Evansville Courier & Press
Posted September 20, 2011
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/s ... side-ihop/

I have been to IHOPs in several states and can't help but notice MOST OF THE KITCHEN EMPLOYEES are Mexicans.

Ditto for Denny's.

Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME

I have been to IHOPs in several states and can't help but notice MOST OF THE KITCHEN EMPLOYEES are Mexicans.

Ditto for Denny's.

I think you will find that is the case in most of the restaurants today. Especially the chain restaurants,whether they are Chinese or Italian or whatever.

FBI raids 7 IHOP restaurants in NW Ohio, Indiana


TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - The FBI says it has executed search warrants at six IHOP restaurants in northwest Ohio and one in Indiana.

A spokesman for the FBI's Cleveland division said Tuesday he couldn't comment on what prompted the searches because the federal search warrants were sealed. Agent Scott Wilson also wouldn't say whether anyone was taken into custody.

He says one restaurant is in Evansville, Ind., and the others are in the Toledo area.

The Blade newspaper in Toledo reported officials carried away boxes of documents.

Wilson says the searches involved the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and Homeland Security investigations through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A spokesman for IHOP's parent company, DineEquity, told the Evansville Courier and Press the company is cooperating and was told the investigation does not involve terrorism.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44596835

UPDATE: Police raid IHOP locations in Ohio and Indiana
Updated: Sep 20, 2011 7:36 PM CDT

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Several IHOP locations are re-opening after seven IHOP locations in Ohio and Indiana were raided early Tuesday morning by the FBI, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and local police.

Officials with Homeland Security tell us the investigation is currently sealed and cannot release any additional information.

A well-placed source with Toledo Police Department tells WTOL 11 the investigation surrounds allegations of money laundering and possibly undocumented workers.

This source also told us there may be allegations of terrorism, but a spokesperson with IHOP's corporate office says they have been told there are no terrorism links.

Locations that were raided:

- Talmadge Road in west Toledo

- Fremont-Pike location in Perrysburg

- Airport Highway in Springfield Township

- Central Avenue in Sylvania Township near McCord road

- An IHOP in Lima, Ohio

- An IHOP in Findlay, Ohio

- An IHOP in Evansville, Indiana

Homeland Security confirms search warrants were executed at 6 a.m.

All seven of the restaurants are owned by Terry Elk. Elk is from our area and WFIE, our sister station in Evansville, Indiana, confirmed Terry Elk's real name is Tarek Elkafrawi.

The FBI told WTOL they raided two homes and two storage units have also been searched. A source tells us the storage units were rented by Maazen Kadir.

According to the Better Business Bureau website, Kadir is the primary contact for the Talmadge Road location and is listed as the area manager. WTOL 11 reporters witnessed FBI agents removing many boxes from the locations. It is unknown what the boxes contain.

Elkafrawi was at a national meeting of IHOP store owners this morning and is now on his way back to our area.

IHOP also said they have been in contact with the FBI and the other authorities and, again, IHOP is saying they have been told this investigation is not related to terrorism.

Copyright 2011 WTOL. All rights reserved.
http://www.wtol.com/story/15503721/police-raid-ihop

I see this made the headlines in the evening news last night 09/20/11

http://www.alipac.us/f12/local-ihop-...n-term-313239/