Another HUGE update on the Joplin post in notables.
Joplin-area restaurants included in “criminal enterprise”
JOPLIN, Mo. – A Joplin restaurant owner is the alleged enterprise leader accused of smuggling undocumented workers into the U.S. to work.
Today, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, with the assistance of numerous local, state, and federal agencies, executed a series of search warrants at ten locations in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Federal agents have arrested 14 of the 19 defendants.
The federal indictment alleges that 17 of the 19 co-defendants were part of an organized criminal enterprise from July 2003 to Aug. 10, 2021, that smuggled Mexican, Guatemalan, and El Salvadoran nationals who were not authorized to live or work in the United States.
Conspirators allegedly harbored the workers in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
The indictment identifies Jose Luis Bravo, 51, as the leader of the enterprise. He’s the owner of Specialty Food Distribution in Joplin. Bravo is also the owner of a group of restaurants registered as Bravos Group, LLC, including El Charro, El Charrito, Playa Azul, Itza, LLC, Cantina Bravo, and El Chango.
https://www.koamnewsnow.com/joplin-area-restaurants-included-in-criminal-enterprise/