Casa Fiesta owner Ramon Ornelas faces at least a year in federal prison after pleading guilty Wednesday in federal court to 18 charges, including harboring and concealing illegal immigrants, some of whom were employees at his former restaurant in Oberlin, a federal prosecutor said.

Ornelas, 42, of Norwalk, surrendered his passport and is required to stay in northern Ohio pending his sentencing on June 14 by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney David Bauer.

U.S. probation officials will determine a sentencing range for Ornelas, but he is expected to serve at least a year, Bauer said.

In 2008, federal immigration officials raided restaurants Ornelas owned in Oberlin, Ashland, Fremont, Norwalk, Oregon, Sandusky, Vermilion and Youngstown.

Five employees of the Oberlin restaurant were taken into custody at that time, along with 53 other workers.

Ornelas pleaded guilty to eight counts of harboring and concealing illegal immigrants, five counts of mail fraud and seven counts of submitting false tax returns. In exchange for the plea, other charges were dropped.

He also agreed to forfeit about $64,000 seized in the July 23, 2008, raids.

Following the raids, the Oberlin community held vigils and debated passing a sanctuary law for illegal immigrants that would have prohibited Oberlin employees — including police officers — from asking about anyone’s immigration status.

Council later passed a resolution stating it shall be “the general practice” of city employees not to inquire about the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses or others who call or approach city staff seeking assistance.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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