Federal Agents Search CR Restaurants
By Justin Foss, Reporter
By Nick Weig

Story Created: Apr 6, 2009 at 12:24 PM CDT

Story Updated: Apr 6, 2009 at 6:43 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS - Federal immigration officials executed search warrants at more than half a dozen locations in eastern Iowa on Monday. Two of those locations were the Metro Buffet locations in Cedar Rapids. No arrests were made. Officials tell KCRG-TV9 this began around 10:30 a.m. Monday at the 33rd Avenue SW and Blairs Ferry Road locations. Federal officials closed the restaurants for about two hours, they have since reopened. Authorities closed the blinds in one restaurant when they saw KCRG-TV9's camera outside. The U.S. Attorney's office in Cedar Rapids is handling the case. Agents on scene wouldn't comment. Buffet manager Richard Zheng said all ten employees at the Blairs Ferry Metro Buffet are legally there, leaving him frustrated at why they shutdown his restaurant during the lunch hour. "We are not worried, we do everything by the law, by the code, " said Zheng. According to the search warrants, agents searched more than half a dozen locations, including homes of the owners in Cedar Rapids. They also searched a Buffet King restaurant in Davenport. The search warrants said officers were looking for several things including paperwork relating to money and travel. None of the employees at the Cedar Rapids restaurants were arrested, no other reports of arrests have been made at the other locations. A grand jury hearing is set for Tuesday morning. Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com






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