IHOP fraud case extended

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TOLEDO – A plea deadline in the federal case of an area businessman who owned seven regional IHOP
franchises has been extended.
On Friday, U.S. Judge David Katz granted a motion to extend the deadline from Jan. 31 to Feb. 28 in the
case of Tarek "Terry" Elkafrawi, Middleton Township.
The motion, filed by Elkafrawi’s attorneys, said that "involvement of defendant’s counsel in other
matters has precluded proper preparation and analysis to enable the defendant to make an informed
determination."
A court document filed last summer previously indicated that Elkafrawi "has not and does not plan
to" offer a plea.
Elkafrawi stands indicted of more than 53 federal counts, including charges related to his alleged
involvement in the arson of a Findlay IHOP he owned. He was indicted in May of 2012.
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.
Most of the 18 defendants have reached plea deals with the U.S. attorney’s office in the case, according
to a court filing.

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