Local residents reacted with both surprise and resignation April 16 as Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement closed El Caporal Mexican Restaurante in the New Martinsville Plaza.

The local crack-down came at precisely 6:01 a.m. Wednesday as ICE executed a multi-state raid that was the culmination of a two-year investigation into illegal immigrants being forced to staff Mexican restaurants to pay off smuggling fees and rent. The restaurant owners reportedly made employees pay for their passage to the United States by garnishing their wages.

The raids occurred in five states—New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, as well as West Virginia. In addition to El Caporal, in West Virginia Nogales Mexican Restaurant in downtown Wheeling was part of the operation.

New Martinsville Police Chief Tim Cecil said the operation was very well coordinated with over 50 ICE agents between Wheeling and New Martinsville. Locally, ICE units from New York, Michigan, and Pittsburgh; New Martinsville Police Department; West Virginia State Police; and West Virginia Department of Labor personnel.

They all gathered in the Riverview Plaza parking lot before they began the coordinated effort. “It was like a parade of car after car that pulled into the Riverview Plaza parking lot,” said Cecil, who added that it was of great benefit that every one of the local officers had a cruiser to go to their assigned location.

Those locations were three apartments on Paducah Drive where seven illegal aliens were arrested and one apartment in Abbey View where one illegal alien was apprehended.

“They could speak great English once they were arrested,” noted Cecil.

The seven were transported to the Northern Regional Jail and restaurant manager Alberto Antimo was taken to the restaurant to aid in the investigation there. Agents searched the restaurant, with Antimo’s permission, and took records and receipts, according to Cecil. ICE also seized all of Antimo’s money at the house, in his wallet, and all money at the restaurant.

Also at the restaurant, investigators discovered buckets tied to ropes hanging from the roof. City electric department employees Jay Jeffers and Jimmy Fayad were dispatched with the cherry picker truck to check the roof. They found nothing unusual on top of the restaurant. Also, Cecil said the moving truck that has been parked beside the restaurant for some time was empty.

Dispelling another rumor surrounding the raid, Cecil said, “There were no drugs found at any residence or restaurant. I didn’t even see any prescription drugs.” He also noted that even though Antimo is married to a local woman, he is still not a legal citizen.

There were no children involved in the raids except for Antimo’s two who stayed with their mother. They are citizens as they were born in the United States.

“It was a pretty intense investigation,” said Cecil. The raid involved seven restaurants in five states, with the headquarters in Buffalo, N.Y. “That’s where the whole investigation started,” he noted.

The Department of Labor went into El Caporal about 15 months ago. At that time they took information and cited the restaurant for various violations, according to Cecil.

Then about 13 months ago he learned about the investigation, but was unable to even tell those in his department. Then seven months ago he brought Ptl. Don Larsen in for surveillance and photos. Larsen was also utilized Thursday to help with the situation in Wheeling, delivering paperwork so ICE agents could sign over the restaurant in Wheeling.

The food at the New Martinsville was successfully signed over to Open Door Ministries, a non-denominational charity that feeds the hungry. Cecil elaborated that ICE talked to Antimo and said the food was going to go bad, so they encouraged his wife to take “whatever she can carry out” as long as she signed a receipt. The remainder was then signed over to Open Door Ministries, creating a positive footnote to the events.

Joe Rabel and Eugene Ebert helped haul seven loads of food to the local ministry. All alcohol from the restaurant was simply disposed of.

“I’d like to commend my officers on their professional and respectful behavior,” said Cecil, adding those they arrested “were hardworking people, they were just in the wrong country. My guys treated them very well.”

NMPD officers involved were Sgt. Steve Kastigar, Det. Donnie Harris, Ptl. Bruce Smith, Ptl. K-9 Handler Tony Thomas, Ptl. Don Larsen, and Chief Tim Cecil.