Posted on 09/20/2011 9:59:21 AM PDT by markomalley
Several IHOP locations are re-opening after seven IHOP locations in Ohio and Indiana were raided early Tuesday morning by the FBI, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and local police.
While the investigation remains sealed, authorities said they were investigating money laundering, funding terrorist organizations and possible undocumented workers.
Locations that were raided:
- Talmadge Road in west Toledo
- Fremont-Pike location in Perrysburg
- Airport Highway in Springfield Township
- Central Avenue in Sylvania Township near McCord road
- An IHOP in Lima, Ohio
- An IHOP in Findlay, Ohio
- An IHOP in Evansville, Indiana
Homeland Security confirms search warrants were executed at 6 a.m.
All seven of the restaurants are owned by Terry Elk. The FBI told WTOL they also raided two homes owned by Elk.
Elk is from our area and WFIE, our sister station in Evansville, Indiana, confirmed Terry Elk's real name is Tarek Elkafrawi.
Two storage units have also been searched. The storage units were rented by Maazen Kadir. According to the Better Business Bureau website, Kadir is the primary contact for the Talmadge Road location and is listed as the area manager.
Elkafrawi was at a national meeting of IHOP store owners this morning and is now on his way back to our area.
IHOP says it is cooperating with authorities and that Elkafrawi is also cooperating with authorities.
IHOP also said they have been in contact with the FBI and the other authorities and IHOP is saying they have been told this investigation is not related to terrorism.
Never trust Muslims, or patronize their businesses.
PBUH. Pancakes Be Upon Him
What better front than an IHOP for terrorists?
They should be renamed Islam-Hops.
I’ve eaten in two of the Toledo IHOP’s...I would have thought the health department would raid them before the FBI
This could also be drug related. We have had recent issues in Pittsburgh with chain restaurants being used as fronts for drug dealing. The cable series Breaking Bad has picked up on this phenomenon as well.
Toledo, like nearby Detroit, is a major settlement for Arabs in this country. There is a huge mosque just of an exit of I-75 heading south towards Bowling Green.
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