BORDERLAND
Couple’s travel requests denied in federal court
7/24/2014The former owner of seven area IHOP restaurants and his wife, who are awaiting sentencing on federal charges, may not travel out of state to visit family, a judge ruled this week.
U.S. District Judge David Katz denied requests from Tarek Elkafrawi, 57, and Kelly Elkafrawi, 51, of Perrysburg to travel Sept. 15-23 to Newburg, Ind., to visit their son and grandson, as well as a request from Kelly Elkafrawi to visit her mother and other family members Aug. 25-Sept. 2 in Seattle.
The judge said he consulted with a pretrial services staff member, who recommended denying the request.
Tarek Elkafrawi, who is on house arrest, entered guilty pleas July 3 to 53 counts, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, alien harboring, identity theft, mail fraud, health-care fraud, and arson in what was described as a long-term scheme to defraud IHOP’s corporate owner, the government, and an insurance company. His wife pleaded guilty to one count each of money laundering and alien harboring.
A sentencing date has not been set.