Target of Raids Stands Accused of Federal Crimes Against the Government
By Dale Hines
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
July 17, 2025
BALDWIN COUNTY, AL. A raid by federal agents on Tuesday at a Robertsdale Mexican restaurant was the culmination of a year long investigation into human trafficking, fraud and a number of other state and federal crimes.
At the heart of the investigation was Cesar Campos-Reyes who is registered as the owner of El Patron in Robertsdale and several other locations.
One of the crimes that he is accused of is obtaining a federal Covid relief loan under false pretenses and missuiting the $225,000.
Campos Reyes received Paycheck Protection Program loans, which were emergency funding during the pandemic, for multiple restaurants who he is the registered agent for. The documents say instead of using them for his business, he used them for personal expenses.
Federal documents say Mariachi’s Mexican Grill received a loan of $70,600, El Patron in Pace got $54,700, the same restaurant in Prattville collected $74,700 and the Pensacola location of El Patron accepted $26,900.
Federal agents executed 14 search warrants across Alabama in Lee, Macon, Elmore, Autauga, Crenshaw and Baldwin counties on July 15th and federal agents uncovered, not only unlawful, unauthorized employment of aliens, but evidence that may point to a broader pattern of criminal conduct,” said Steven Schrank, special agent in charge for HSI in Alabama and Georgia.
These federal documents also show that in May and June of 2020, Campos-Reyes transferred four s-b-a loans to his personal bank account. Each transfer was for $149,900, totaling nearly $600,000.
Campos Reyes is facing multiple federal charges including bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
Federal agents previously said that more arrests may be made.
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