Yellowhammer Times

On July 18, 2025, Cesar Campos-Reyes, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Auburn, Alabama, appeared in federal court following his arrest earlier this week. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.

Campos-Reyes was charged with four counts of bank fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering. These charges are related to an alleged scheme involving federal program fraud. Authorities executed search warrants at 14 locations across six Alabama counties—Autauga, Baldwin, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lee, and Macon—with eight of these locations being restaurants.

During the hearing, Campos-Reyes pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial date has been set for November 3, 2025. A detention hearing is scheduled for July 23, 2025, to decide if Campos-Reyes will remain in custody until the trial. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 30 years in federal prison and significant financial penalties as there is no parole in the federal system.

Three Mexican nationals—Luis Miguel Campos-Reyes, Isaac Fernandez-Lopez, and Marco Antonio Guzman—were also arrested during the enforcement actions on July 15. Luis Campos-Reyes and Fernandez-Lopez were charged with harboring and unlawfully employing aliens. Guzman was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

The investigation leading to these charges was coordinated by multiple agencies including the FBI, DEA, HSI, ALEA among others. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle R. Turner and John J. Geer III.

An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.