Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Friday that his deputies arrested 12 people during the raids of four Phoenix-area McDonald's fast-food restaurants as his department continues to target illegal immigration.
Deputies armed with search warrants raided McDonald's in Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa, and a mansion in Paradise Valley on Friday morning.
Arpaio says his deputies believe more than 50 employees working at the restaurants may have used fake or stolen identities to get their jobs.
The Paradise Valley home is owned by Richard Coulston, who owns the restaurants. Deputies could be seen on local television stations swarming around Coulston's mansion.
Julie Pace, a spokeswoman for R&L Management — Coulston's company — in a statement strongly cautioned anyone from "jumping to conclusion without having all the facts."
