Federal charges against a man caught up in a July 15 law enforcement operation have been dropped for lack of evidence.
Isaac Fernandez-Lopez faced charges of unlawful employment of aliens after the multi-county roundup, a release from the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama states. He was employed as the manager of El Patron Mexican Grill in Opelika, the release states.
A federal judge has ruled there is not enough evidence to support the charges against Fernandez-Lopez, court records show.
Cesar Campos-Reyes, the man at the center of the raids who is listed as owner of several Mexican restaurants in central and south Alabama, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of bank fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering. His trial has been set for Nov. 3.
More: Auburn man arrested after federal operation pleads not guilty in fraud case
Fernandez-Lopez and Campos-Reyes are brothers-in-law, the prosecutor’s office release says.
Campo-Reyes is charged with federal crimes related to loans received through the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, prosecutors say. Two sources of relief provided by the CARES Act are the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Both programs were intended to help eligible small businesses by giving them working capital to make regular payments for operating expenses such as payroll, rent or mortgage expenses, utilities or business debt.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at [email protected]. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Charges dropped against Alabama restaurant manager in federal case
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