Cottonwood Journal Extra, Cottonwood, AZ (2025)

07/17/2025

Residents across the Verde Valley and Sedona should take note: Corn Fest returns to Camp Verde for its 30th anniversary with new hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 19, along Hollamon Street in downtown Camp Verde, including the Community Center.

An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people are expected to attend, according to Tiffany Smith, parks and recreation supervisor.

Residents across the Verde Valley and Sedona should take note: Corn Fest returns to Camp Verde for its 30th anniversary with new hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 19, along Hollamon Street in downtown Camp Verde, including the Community Center. An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people are expecte...

07/16/2025

Homeland Security Investigations and other law enforcement agencies executed federal search warrants at five C**t Grill restaurants and 12 residences in two states on Tuesday, July 15, after a three-year labor exploitation investigation and a five-count federal indictment against four individuals in Arizona, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
On Tuesday, May 27, a grand jury in Phoenix returned an indictment against Robert and Brenda Clouston, both 61, residents of Northern Arizona, and Luis Pedro Rogel-Jaimes, age 33, and Iris Romero-Molina, age 29, both Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States and residing in Cottonwood, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Charges include:
◉ conspiracy to transport illegal aliens
◉ conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens
◉ conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to unlawfully enter the United States
◉ and pattern and practice of knowingly employing unauthorized aliens
The indictment alleges that Robert and Brenda Clouston operated four C**t Grill restaurants in the Northern Arizona, specifically in Olt Town Cottonwood, Prescott, Prescott Valley and the Village of Oak Creek, and one C**t Grill in Foley, Ala.
In September 2022, the Cloustons, Rogel-Jaimes and Romero-Molina allegedly made a plan that Romero-Molina would create a cleaning company, R&R AZ Cleaning, that would operate as a staffing company for the C**t Grill restaurants, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Rogel-Jaimes and Romero-Molina allegedly would then find undocumented workers to work at the restaurants, paying them through R&R AZ Cleaning with funds from C**t Grill.

Homeland Security Investigations and other law enforcement agencies executed federal search warrants at five C**t Grill restaurants and 12 residences in two states on Tuesday, July 15, after a three-year labor exploitation investigation and a five-count federal indictment against four individuals in...

07/15/2025

Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided C**t Grill locations in the Village of Oak Creek and Cottonwood on Tuesday, July 15.
“Special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations and partner agencies are executing multiple criminal/federal arrest and search warrants in the northern Arizona,” Homeland Security Investigations Southwest Deputy Communications Chief Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe wrote in an email Tuesday morning. ” The investigation is ongoing; updates will be issued as they become available.”
“The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, with Homeland Security Investigations and multiple other federal agencies, are currently working in Yavapai County on a complex criminal investigation involving alleged criminal activity including money laundering and labor exploitation that is tied to all locations of the C**t Grill,” YCSO posted to Facebook. “Multiple local police departments in Yavapai County are assisting with scene security and ensuring public safety while these search warrants are being served.”
UPDATE, 4:04 p.m.:
“This morning, around 11 a.m., HSI lead enforcement activity alongside multiple federal and local law enforcement partners to include ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Yavapai County, the U.S. Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations in the ex*****on of 28 federal search warrants and four federal arrest warrants specifically in the areas of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Sedona and Yavapai County, and Foley, Ala., related to illicit money laundering, labor exploitation and human smuggling," Pitts O'Keefe wrote at 4:04 p.m., adding additional charges may be forthcoming.
"Today’s planned enforcement activity resulted in the arrest of four targets who are alleged to have participated in money laundering among other charges," Pitts O'Keefe wrote. "Over 20 immigration related arrests also took place, but that number has not been finalized as interviews are ongoing."
"The success of this operation is a result of the close coordinated efforts by our partner law enforcement agencies, all who had significant impact in this three-year long federal investigation. This is an ongoing investigation.”

UDPATE: Wednesday, July 16:
The federal indictment lists C**t Grill owners Brenda and Robert "Bob" Kenneth Clouston and employees Luis Pedro Rogel Jaimes and Iris Romero Molina. The four were arraigned at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 16, before U.S. District Court for Arizona Judge Camille D. Bibles at the Flagstaff Courthouse.

CLICK THIS LINK TO THE STORY: https://journalaz.com/2025/07/15/immigration-and-customs-enforcement-and-homeland-security-raid-colt-grill-in-cottonwood-voc/ (a Facebook glitch is sending users to Facebook Messenger rather than linking to the story on journalaz.com)

Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided C**t Grill locations in the Village of Oak Creek and Cottonwood on Tuesday, July 15. At least five people were detained in the VOC and transported to Yavapai County Detention Center in Camp Verde by the Yavapai County Sh...

07/15/2025

Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided C**t Grill locations in the Village of Oak Creek and Cottonwood on Tuesday, July 15.
“Special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations and partner agencies are executing multiple criminal/federal arrest and search warrants in the northern Arizona,” Homeland Security Investigations Southwest Deputy Communications Chief Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe wrote in an email Tuesday morning. ” The investigation is ongoing; updates will be issued as they become available.”
“The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, with Homeland Security Investigations and multiple other federal agencies, are currently working in Yavapai County on a complex criminal investigation involving alleged criminal activity including money laundering and labor exploitation that is tied to all locations of the C**t Grill,” YCSO posted to Facebook. “Multiple local police departments in Yavapai County are assisting with scene security and ensuring public safety while these search warrants are being served.”

UPDATE, 4:04 p.m.:
“This morning, around 11 a.m., HSI lead enforcement activity alongside multiple federal and local law enforcement partners to include ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Yavapai County, the U.S. Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations in the ex*****on of 28 federal search warrants and four federal arrest warrants specifically in the areas of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Sedona and Yavapai County, and Foley, Ala., related to illicit money laundering, labor exploitation and human smuggling," Pitts O'Keefe wrote at 4:04 p.m., adding additional charges may be forthcoming.
"Today’s planned enforcement activity resulted in the arrest of four targets who are alleged to have participated in money laundering among other charges," Pitts O'Keefe wrote. "Over 20 immigration related arrests also took place, but that number has not been finalized as interviews are ongoing."
"The success of this operation is a result of the close coordinated efforts by our partner law enforcement agencies, all who had significant impact in this three-year long federal investigation. This is an ongoing investigation.”

CLICK THIS LINK TO THE STORY: https://journalaz.com/2025/07/15/immigration-and-customs-enforcement-and-homeland-security-raid-colt-grill-in-cottonwood-voc/ (a Facebook glitch is sending users to Facebook Messenger rather than linking to the story on journalaz.com)

Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided C**t Grill locations in the Village of Oak Creek and Cottonwood on Tuesday, July 15. “Special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations and partner agencies are executing multiple criminal/federal arrest and sea...

07/15/2025

Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided C**t Grill locations in the Village of Oak Creek and Cottonwood on Tuesday, July 15.

“Special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations and partner agencies are executing multiple criminal/federal arrest and search warrants in the northern Arizona,” Homeland Security Investigations Southwest Deputy Communications Chief Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe wrote in an email Tuesday morning. ” The investigation is ongoing; updates will be issued as they become available.”

“The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, with Homeland Security Investigations and multiple other federal agencies, are currently working in Yavapai County on a complex criminal investigation involving alleged criminal activity including money laundering and labor exploitation that is tied to all locations of the C**t Grill,” YCSO posted to Facebook. “Multiple local police departments in Yavapai County are assisting with scene security and ensuring public safety while these search warrants are being served.”

CLICK THIS LINK TO THE STORY: https://journalaz.com/2025/07/15/immigration-and-customs-enforcement-and-homeland-security-raid-colt-grill-in-cottonwood-voc/ (a Facebook glitch is sending users to Facebook Messenger rather than linking to the story on journalaz.com)

UPDATE, 4:04 p.m.:
“This morning, around 11 a.m., HSI lead enforcement activity alongside multiple federal and local law enforcement partners to include ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Yavapai County, the U.S. Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations in the ex*****on of 28 federal search warrants and four federal arrest warrants specifically in the areas of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Sedona and Yavapai County, and Foley, Ala., related to illicit money laundering, labor exploitation and human smuggling," Pitts O'Keefe wrote at 4:04 p.m., adding additional charges may be forthcoming.
"Today’s planned enforcement activity resulted in the arrest of four targets who are alleged to have participated in money laundering among other charges," Pitts O'Keefe wrote. "Over 20 immigration related arrests also took place, but that number has not been finalized as interviews are ongoing."
"The success of this operation is a result of the close coordinated efforts by our partner law enforcement agencies, all who had significant impact in this three-year long federal investigation. This is an ongoing investigation.”

UDPATE: Wednesday, July 16:
The federal indictment lists C**t Grill owners Brenda and Robert "Bob" Kenneth Clouston and employees Luis Pedro Rogel Jaimes and Iris Romero Molina. The four were arraigned at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 16, before U.S. District Court for Arizona Judge Camille D. Bibles at the Flagstaff Courthouse.
https://journalaz.com/2025/07/15/immigration-and-customs-enforcement-and-homeland-security-raid-colt-grill-in-cottonwood-voc/

Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided C**t Grill locations in the Village of Oak Creek and Cottonwood on Tuesday, July 15. At least five people were detained in the VOC and transported to Yavapai County Detention Center in Camp Verde by the Yavapai County Sh...

07/15/2025

Two residents have each been scammed out of $60 in the past two weeks after they made online payments to individuals posing as the Town of Camp Verde’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Believing they were registering as vendors for this year’s Corn Fest, the residents instead sent their money to online imposters, who took the cash and, of course, never registered them for the event because they are not affiliated with the town, according to Parks and Recreation Manager Shawna Figy.

Two residents have each been scammed out of $60 in the past two weeks after they made online payments to individuals posing as the Town of Camp Verde’s Parks and Recreation Department. Believing they were registering as vendors for this year’s Corn Fest, the residents instead sent their money to...

07/14/2025

The Camp Verde Town Council adopted the town’s final budget for fiscal year 2025-26 at the special meeting on Wednesday, July 2.

Fiscal year 2026 runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

Finance Director Mike Showers gave a brief presentation on highlights from the final budget. The town aims to maintain a balanced budget operationally every year, when recurring operational expenditures are covered with current year revenues instead of reserves.

The Camp Verde Town Council adopted the town’s final budget for fiscal year 2025-26 at the special meeting on Wednesday, July 2. Fiscal year 2026 runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Finance Director Mike Showers gave a brief presentation on highlights from the final budget. The town aims to m...

07/10/2025

Cottonwood police officers arrested 29-year-old Cottonwood resident Cody Gilmore on the evening of June 26 following “a string of violent and dangerous incidents that spanned multiple locations and endangered numerous lives,” according to CPD Sgt. Chad Sinn.

The incident began with a report of a domestic dispute between Gilmore and his ex-girlfriend.

Cottonwood police officers arrested 29-year-old Cottonwood resident Cody Gilmore on the evening of June 26 following “a string of violent and dangerous incidents that spanned multiple locations and endangered numerous lives,” according to CPD Sgt. Chad Sinn. The incident began with a report of a...

07/09/2025

Larson Newspapers photojournalist Daulton Venglar put together a photo gallery of 72 photos from the 4th of July fireworks show over the city of City of Cottonwood, Arizona
Click the link to view the slideshow

Daulton VenglarDaulton Venglar is the photojournalist for the Cottonwood Journal Extra and The Camp Verde Journal and contributes to the Sedona Red Rock News. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2016. Before working at his current job with La...

07/09/2025

Larson Newspapers photojournalist Daulton Venglar put together a photo gallery of 24 photos from the annual Clarkdale Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade

Daulton VenglarDaulton Venglar is the photojournalist for the Cottonwood Journal Extra and The Camp Verde Journal and contributes to the Sedona Red Rock News. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2016. Before working at his current job with La...

07/07/2025

“What I want to be when I grow up is to be a pro,” said Cornville resident Noah Decker, 9, about his co****le aspirations ahead of competing in the American Co****le League’s 2025 World Championships.

Decker will need all the practice time he can get ahead of his full competition schedule this summer, since he’ll be competing in the Arizona State Co****le Championships, Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20, at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Event Center in Maricopa, followed by the American Co****le World Championships in Rock Hill, S.C., which runs July 28 through Aug. 3. Decker will also be competing at the regional tournament.

“What I want to be when I grow up is to be a pro,” said Cornville resident Noah Decker, 9, about his co****le aspirations ahead of competing in the American Co****le League’s 2025 World Championships. Decker will need all the practice time he can get ahead of his full competition schedule this...

07/05/2025

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s study of passenger rail between the Phoenix and Tucson areas is ready to take a step forward.

The Federal Railroad Administration has approved ADOT’s submissions in the first step of the Corridor Identification and Development Program: a scope, schedule and budget for preparing a Service Development Plan for establishing passenger rail service. Work on the Service Development Plan can begin after approval of a federal grant, which is expected in the coming weeks.

“This is a big step forward for Arizona,” Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said. “I am committed to creating a bright transportation future for our state that fosters economic growth, creates jobs and expands transit opportunities for working people and families.”

The Arizona Department of Transportation’s study of passenger rail between the Phoenix and Tucson areas is ready to take a step forward. The Federal Railroad Administration has approved ADOT’s submissions in the first step of the Corridor Identification and Development Program: a scope, schedule...

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