By rssfeeds-admin 
At the center of the case is 52-year-old Cesar Campos Reyes, a Lee County man now wanted by federal authorities. Officials say Reyes is accused of defrauding COVID relief programs and misusing more than $225,000 in funds intended to help small businesses survive the pandemic. Reyes self-surrendered late Tuesday and is now in federal custody. He will likely make his initial appearance in federal court in Montgomery tomorrow.
Reyes was indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of bank fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering. He remains at large.
According to prosecutors, Reyes submitted false information to obtain multiple loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Both were created by the CARES Act to help small businesses stay afloat by covering payroll, rent, and other operating expenses. Authorities say Reyes used the money for unauthorized purposes.
Federal agents executed 14 search warrants across Lee, Macon, Elmore, Autauga, Crenshaw, and Baldwin counties. Locally, raids were carried out at El Jefe, a restaurant near the Auburn Mall, and El Patron, located in Tiger Town. Officers with ICE, the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals, and several local police departments took part in the operation.
During the searches, agents recovered distribution quantities of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, assorted pills, more than $100,000 in cash, and at least 20 firearms. Authorities say more than 40 individuals believed to be in the U.S. illegally were also detained and are now undergoing deportation proceedings. Investigators could not say if the 40 or more individuals were involved in the alleged criminal enterprise or workers who were performing their duties at the time of the raids.
Three people were taken into federal custody. Two are expected to be charged with harboring undocumented individuals, and one is being charged with drug distribution. More arrests and charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Outside El Jefe, community members gathered to watch the raids. Mary Jo Thompson, a local advocate with Indivisible Auburn, shared her emotional reaction as she watched agents move in.
“I’m shaking. My heart’s broken,” Thompson said. “You see this happening everywhere else, but now it’s here in our own community.”
Thompson said she and others had heard something was coming and were checking on local businesses and families.
“These are not the bad guys. These are not rapists. These are not the drug cartels,” she said, holding back tears. “These are families trying to live the American dream. Their kids go to school with our kids. We eat here. We are friends. These are kind people.”
The charges against Reyes are part of a broader federal initiative called Operation Take Back America, which aims to dismantle criminal networks involved in fraud, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.
If convicted on all counts, Reyes faces up to 30 years in prison and large fines. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle R. Turner and John J. Geer, III.
Watch the full press conference where authorities explain the execution of the search warrants below:
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