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Investigation leads to metro Phoenix sushi restaurants with undocumented workers, police say

Sakura Sushi's Ahwatukee location at 48th Street and Elliott Road on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.
Tim Agne
/
KJZZ
Sakura Sushi's Ahwatukee location at 48th Street and Elliott Road on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.

A monthslong investigation of sushi restaurants in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert and Mesa resulted in arrests for harboring undocumented people in stash houses.

A probable cause statement says search warrants were served this month.

Now police say an alleged restaurant owner and manager each face criminal complaints for a pattern and practice of knowingly hiring undocumented people.

The alleged manager is also accused by police of being a caretaker at one of four stash houses where unauthorized workers lived.

Police in Tempe reportedly received complaints about one of the houses, where workers were seen leaving and returning in the same van.

The alleged owner and manager are due in court on Dec. 30.

More criminal justice news

Matthew Casey has won Public Media Journalists Association and Edward R. Murrow awards since he joined KJZZ as a senior field correspondent in 2015.