Cancun Mexican Restaurant reopens with much support
Residents stick up for accused owner
onlinesentinel.com
By Scott Monroe smonroe@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
Posted: 12:00 AM

WATERVILLE -- Hector Fuentes reopened his Cancun Mexican Restaurant Friday night, a day after he and his brother were released from federal custody on charges of harboring and employing illegal immigrants.

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Hector Fuentes, left, and employee Samantha Lopez sort through orders Friday night in the kitchen at Cancun Mexican Restaurant. Fuentes, 37, owner, closed the Waterville restaurant Wednesday after being arrested on charges of harboring and employing illegal immigrants.

Fuentes, 37, of Waterville, declined comment Friday, except to say the restaurant would be open Saturday evening as well, "and after next Monday I plan to be open full time to take care of my customers who have supported me." Fuentes was cooking by himself in the kitchen Friday evening.

The door to Fuentes' Silver Street restaurant was covered with notes of encouragement from supporters during the afternoon. Among the first patrons to arrive for dinner around 5 p.m. were John Sweney, 73, of Waterville and Chuck Sasuclark, 62, of Winslow, who said they were there to show support for a good friend.

"He's a good member of the community and we believe it will all turn out well," Sasuclark said.

It was unclear Friday night how the raid affected the restaurant's staffing.

Fuentes' attorney, Thomas Nale, of Waterville, said he still could not comment directly on the allegations by federal officials.

"He's doing great; his family is fine," Nale said. "We're still trying to put pieces together here, as to why he's in this particular situation. There are always two sides to every story. But I need to speak with Hector a little more to put things in a better perspective."

Fuentes' brother, Guillermo, 35, owner of Fajita Grill in Westbrook, was arrested and charged with the same crimes. Guillermo Fuentes also was released from custody late Thursday. A federal magistrate judge set bail at $100,000 in property or $10,000 in cash for each man.

The charges for both men relate to alleged hiring and employment practices at Cancun Mexican Restaurant in Waterville, Fajita Grill in Westbrook and Cancun Mexican Restaurant II in Brunswick, which also is owned by Hector Fuentes, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

The complaint, signed by James O. Bell, special agent with federal Homeland Security, says he spoke with four immigrants who worked at the Fuentes' restaurants and were paid in cash. Four illegal immigrants who were interviewed during the investigation were allowed to continue living and working in the U.S. as they cooperate with authorities, and one of them was allowed to apply to become a legal resident, according to the complaint.

The Fuentes brothers were arrested Wednesday during coordinated raids by federal officials.

'Gross overreaction'

John Fortier, a State Farm Insurance agent with offices next to Cancun, said Friday that he watched the raid, which he said included dozens of armed agents, unfold and thought it was a gross overreaction.

He said it also essentially shut down downtown Silver Street for several hours.

"I thought it was an over-the-top display of authority," Fortier said. "They were disrespectful, they were rude. It was not a violent individual they were going after. There was way too much testosterone."

Fortier said he saw several things that bothered him during the raid. He said the federal agents seized a case from the restaurant, busted it open, and one agent expressed disappointment at finding petty cash and not incriminating material inside. Fortier said he was also dismayed to see federal agents high-fiving each other for a good mission.

"To think that's how they treat somebody that's a law-abiding citizen; I hate to think I could be treated that way," Fortier said.

Fortier is also a landlord for three employees and he said background checks he conducted on them showed them to be legal citizens. The tenants were taken away in shackles, he hadn't heard from them as of Friday, he said.

"I have never had any issues with them," he said. "They're wonderful tenants. They're quiet, respectful, go to work religiously and I wish I had more tenants like that. The rent was always paid on time."

Federal officials on Friday once again declined to say whether any of the restaurants' employees were arrested or face charges, and whether any are illegal immigrants.

Chuck Jackson, spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declined comment on Friday and referred questions to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark said he had no more information on additional arrests.

Local support

"I have no knowledge of Hector having employed any illegal aliens ever," Fortier said. "He's a very good neighbor, a good businessperson and he's done a lot for downtown. I support Hector 100 percent and a lot of people do."

Bruce Fowler, of Benton, said he is a landlord for two Cancun employees and has had about eight other employees previously as tenants.

"Anyone who rents from us has to do a rental application, with Social Security, background checks, credit history and everyone I've ever rented to they've gone through that," Fowler said. "I can't speak to any of his actions, but everyone I've dealt with is above board. They all had green cards and social security cards."

Fowler said he hopes the allegations can be settled and Fuentes can continue operating his restaurant.

"Hector and Cancun are an asset to the downtown and I hope they continue to be there for a long time to come," Fowler said.

Fuentes opened Cancun in 2008, hiring five full-time and several part-time staff. At the time he said he grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he lived 19 years. He moved to the U.S. with his family in the early 1990s.

The federal investigation is being conducted by the Immigration & Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations division of the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

The complaint states that between 2006 and 2009 in Maine and elsewhere, the Fuentes brothers knowingly and willfully conspired with one another and with other people to conceal, harbor and shield from detention aliens who entered and stayed in the U.S. in violation of law. It also states that between at least 2006 and 2011, the brothers engaged in a patterns of hiring those aliens, knowing they were unauthorized aliens with respect to employment.

Clark, the assistant U.S. attorney, said the case is in a post-complaint phase in which it can either be presented to a federal grand jury for an indictment, or the defendent's attorney and the prosecution could work together to see if the case can be resolved another way.

"It's still really early in this case," said Nale, Fuentes' attorney. "Hector is truly loved and respected, and we'll see what we can do to work this out."

Cancun's Facebook page on Friday was filled with postings of support, while the page's poster thanked people for their support during difficult times.

"Come join us tonight for some great drinks and good ol Cancun fun!" an employee posted Friday afternoon. "We are opening at 5 with a small menu, but we are here welcoming all!"

Scott Monroe -- 861-9239

smonroe@centralmaine.com

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