California pizza joint allegedly used as meth distribution hub as illegal immigrant charged
A California pizza shop allegedly had far more than pies on the menu, with a man accused of using the Round Table Pizza restaurant to sell massive quantities of meth.
Kawal Preet Singh, a 50-year-old Indian national living illegally in the United States, was indicted Thursday on federal drug and firearm charges after authorities allegedly uncovered more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine, three guns and over $10,000 in cash.
Federal prosecutors say Singh operated the Round Table Pizza restaurant in Dinuba, a Tulare County city about 30 miles southeast of Fresno, and used the business to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine.
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Singh pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Thursday. He is not in custody, according to The Fresno Bee.
The Dinuba restaurant is listed as permanently closed on Google.
"The employee involved in the reported incident had worked at this location for approximately one and a half months," the company told GV Wire.
Erin Mandzik, senior director of corporate communications for FAT Brands, Round Table Pizza’s parent company, told The Fresno Bee that the restaurant was independently owned and operated.
Mandzik said the local owners had no knowledge of the alleged illegal activity before it came to light and were fully cooperating with authorities, according to the newspaper.
Fox News Digital reached out to Round Table Pizza seeking additional information about Singh’s role, the restaurant’s ownership and the decision to permanently close the location.
Federal agents searched Singh’s home and the restaurant Aug. 18 as part of an investigation into Indian organized crime in California’s Central Valley, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Investigators allegedly found approximately 13.8 kilograms, or more than 30 pounds, of suspected methamphetamine at Singh’s home, The Fresno Bee reported.
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Another roughly 4.9 kilograms, or nearly 11 pounds, was allegedly packed into five clear plastic bags inside Singh’s Hyundai Sonata parked at the restaurant, according to the newspaper.
Agents also seized a semiautomatic handgun and $11,800 in cash, the outlet reported.
Photographs released by the Justice Department showed two handguns allegedly seized during the investigation, including one with a teal-colored frame. Another image showed clear plastic bags containing a crystalline substance authorities identified as methamphetamine.
A federal grand jury charged Singh with distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The investigation reportedly began with a May tip about a suspected narcotics trafficker operating in Fresno and distributing controlled substances.
Investigators later received information about a trafficker known as "Camy," who was described as a Sikh Indian man involved in long-haul trucking, according to court documents cited by The Fresno Bee.
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"The information identified the narcotics trafficker as ‘Camy’ and described him as a Sikh Indian male involved in long-haul trucking," an FBI affidavit said, according to the outlet. "The suspect worked with a network of other Sikh Indian truck drivers to transport narcotics."
Investigators developed evidence indicating that a network of truck drivers transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Mexico into the United States for an unidentified Mexican cartel, The Fresno Bee reported. Singh has not been charged with a cocaine-related crime.
The Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force later identified Singh as a subject of the investigation, federal prosecutors said.
Search warrants signed Aug. 13 covered Singh, his home and the Dinuba restaurant, according to The Fresno Bee. Five days later, agents allegedly watched Singh leave the restaurant and drive to his home before searching both properties.
Singh allegedly told investigators he had not sold methamphetamine for approximately two months and claimed he was storing the drugs for a friend, according to the outlet.
Singh faces at least 10 years in federal prison if convicted of the drug charges. The firearm count could add at least five more years behind bars.
Prosecutors emphasized that the charges are allegations and that Singh is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Singh’s next federal court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.