'A complex criminal investigation': Popular Arizona BBQ restaurant accused of money laundering and labor exploitation

KPNX-TV Phoenix via MSN ^ | July 15, 2025 | John Tanet

[chrisinoc]

The popular barbeque restaurant Colt Grill is facing accusations of money laundering and labor exploitation as part of a "complex criminal investigation," Yavapai County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.

Homeland Security Investigations and "multiple other federal agencies" are involved in the investigation, YCSO said.

Sheriff's office deputies were seen serving search warrants at multiple Colt Grill locations Tuesday morning with help from local police.

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TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: arizona; crime; moneylaundering

[chrisinoc]

I was across the street from Colt Grill in Prescott Valley and was thinking about eating lunch there today. I guess I won't now.

There are four locations in Yavapai County, and they raided all of them.

[Mean Daddy]

Try Nichols West in Congress, AZ. When we fly into Phoenix to stay in Prescott, we take the western route to get there unless the weather’s bad but we always stop at Nichols West for lunch/dinner.

[Big Red Badger]

Their ‘Sampler’ Plater is Dern Good!
Katicorner form The Court House.

[lee martell]

This case is going to require a full and complete investigation, starting with their Menu Items, as ‘evidence’.
I volunteer my services to fulfill the duties.
Just don’t use the Super-Duper Hot Sauce on every entree.

[Luke21]

I’ve eaten at two of them. My wife likes them better than I do.

[chrisinoc]

I prefer Up in Smoke in Chino Valley.

My neighbor just drove by the Colt’s by the courthouse, and he said it’s totally closed off with feds and local police swarming the place.

[chrisinoc]

“I’ve eaten at two of them. My wife likes them better than I do.”

The food is (was) good but overpriced. I go there because the employees occasionally wear MAGA clothing.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Should have stuck with cooking food and not the books.

[RetiredTexasVet]

Should have stuck with cooking food and not the books.

[kaktuskid]

There is State 48 BBQ on Sheldon St in Prescott. Plain old BBQ joint but great ribs.

[chud]

A friend of mine told me that the cartels are buying up a lot of cash businesses to launder money, and are smuggling child labor across the southern border to work at them.

[Dr. Sivana]

I am happy with Little MissbarBQ on University in Tempe and also in Sunnyslope

[DouglasKC]

There sure are a lot of Mexican restaurants...even in small towns there’s sometimes two or three.

[Big Red Badger]

Chino Valley is a great Area!
Up in Smoke is easy to remember.

I usually can be found in Dewey.

[chrisinoc]

“There is State 48 BBQ on Sheldon St in Prescott. Plain old BBQ joint but great ribs.”

I like eating there but it was better under the previous name (which I can’t remember).

[chrisinoc]

“Chino Valley is a great Area!
Up in Smoke is easy to remember.

I usually can be found in Dewey.”

I like the BBQ place (across from Left-T’s) but it keeps changing hands.

[Big Red Badger]

Yuppers...
I got a hankering for some BBQ NOW!

[chrisinoc]

Let me know if you go to Hassayampa BBQ in Dewey and how it tastes.

[PhiloBedo]

In before the Chicken Brothers reference.