An area businessman who owned seven regional IHOP franchises has pleaded guilty to charges involving an
arson of one of his restaurants as well as others.
A plea hearing for Tarek "Terry" Elkafrawi, of Middleton Township, was held Thursday.
He withdrew his not guilty plea and entered a plea of guilty.
Elkafrawi was indicted on more than 53 federal counts, including charges related to his alleged
involvement in the arson of a Findlay IHOP he owned.
In all, 18 people were indicted in the case, which involves charges of money laundering, harboring
undocumented workers, identity theft, and insurance fraud at the restaurants, one of which is located in
Perrysburg Township. That restaurant was one of those raided as part of the investigation into the case.

Over $3 million was reportedly diverted as part of the indicted schemes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation alleged that Elkafrawi and others engaged in a number of criminal
schemes, including money laundering, identity theft, alien harboring, and arson, centered around seven
IHOPs owned in Perrysburg Township, Toledo, Holland, Findlay, Lima, and Evansville, Ind.