2 IHOP managers plead guilty to illegal hiring

5/30/2013

Two people who worked as managers at area International House of Pancake restaurants entered guilty pleas Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

Mahmoud Ali, 23, of Toledo pleaded guilty to alien harboring, identify theft, and making false statements, while Carlos Gamboa, 50, of Toledo pleaded guilty to alien harboring and identity theft. Judge David Katz accepted their pleas but did not schedule a sentencing date.

Ali and Gamboa were among 18 people indicted last year in a scheme involving illegal hiring practices, money laundering, wire fraud, arson, and other charges in connection with IHOP restaurants operated by Tarek Elkafrawi in Toledo, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Springfield Township, Findlay, Lima, and Evansville, Ind.