Federal agents raided 15 of the restaurants Wednesday in Arizona and California, including one in Camarillo. The restaurants that were raided are independently owned and operated. Eight other restaurant locations owned by franchises were not affected.
Agents say they detained about 40 suspected illegal immigrants.
Mark and Chris Evenson, father and son and independent owners of Chuy's stores in California and Arizona, were arrested on allegations of tax fraud and illegal hiring practices.
Eric W. Rose, spokesperson for CMB LLC, which owns the franchising rights to the name of Chuy's Mesquite Broiler Restaurants, issued the following statement: upon
"We understand from news reports that federal agents have arrested Mark Evenson and his son Chris Evenson on allegations of tax fraud and illegal hiring practices at the restaurants they run independently own and run in California and Arizona. Chuy's Mesquite Broiler Restaurants are owned by a number of individuals, not just Mark and Chris Evenson. While we are deeply disturbed by the alleged actions, they do not represent the values and ideals of the Chuy's Mesquite Broiler Restaurants, the other independent owners or our employees. Mark and Chris Evenson have no ownership of the Chuy's Mesquite Broiler Restaurants in Simi Valley West, Stevenson Ranch/Newhall, the Bakersfield CA, Kolb store in Tucson Arizona or Murrieta, CA location."