A chain of Mexican restaurants in Alabama that shares the same name as businesses raided as a part of a national money laundering and drug investigation is trying to clear up confusion.

“I have clients (that have) got my phone number. They’ve been calling me and asking me, ‘Hey, are you all guys okay? Are you related to that guy?’” said Jesus Perez, an owner of El Patron, which has restaurant locations in Birmingham, Moody, Atalla, Gadsden and Trussville.

“That’s not us,” he said.

Earlier this week, 14 restaurants and locations were raided as a part of a multi-agency, long-term investigation into human smuggling, drug trafficking and financial fraud. Officials arrested 40 people thought to be undocumented immigrants. Authorities also seized large amounts of methamphetamine, powder cocaine, crack and pills and $100,000 in cash.

Cesar Campos-Reyes, one of the targets of the investigation and the owner of multiple restaurants, is in federal custody.

El Jefe, a Mexican restaurant by the Auburn-Opelieka Mall, the Colt Grill in Foley, El Patron Mexican Grill and Cantina in Robertsville and at several other restaurants in Elmore County were raided.

“Please be advised that El Patron Mexican Restaurant is not, in any way, affiliated with or connected to the business currently in the spotlight,” Perez’s company said in a statement after the raids.

El Jefe, the raided restaurant in Auburn, took to social media earlier this week to try to differentiate new ownership from a previous owner that they say was the target of the visit from federal law enforcement.

“There has been some confusion that the individual is still in this business with us. We are NOT associated with the individual and have NOT been since 2023,” the restaurant said on Facebook Wednesday.

An employee at a different Alabama restaurant named El Jefe Tex-Mex, based in Russellville, answered the phone Friday afternoon in Spanish. She said she did not know if there had been similar confusion about her restaurant, which was not involved in any raids.

Perez, the owner of the El Patron chain that was not raided, is worried the mixup might be bad for business. But he’s hesitated to explain more on social media for fear of fueling more confusion.

“We’re not related to the company or the owner of the other Patrons,” he said.