PHOENIX (AP) — Federal agents served search and arrest warrants Saturday at a number of Phoenix-area car washes as part of an ongoing investigation involving immigration fraud and other alleged crimes.
Agents executed the warrants at 16 locations associated with Danny's Family Car Wash and the company's staffing service provider, HR Betty. It's unclear how many charges have been filed and who is named in the arrest warrants. Those documents have been filed under seal in federal court.
Amber Cargile, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Saturday that the two-year investigation targets the owners, corporate leadership and management of the two businesses. She said multiple defendants face charges of criminal immigration fraud, identity theft and financial violations.
"A lot of these businesses will sometimes subject them (their employees) to substandard conditions to give them an edge that their competitors don't get," she said.