Former Zipps Hiring Manager to Plead Guilty to Felony

Diego Armando Gonzalez-Rosales admits to helping undocumented worker get job using fake ID

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A former kitchen hiring manager at Zipps Sports Grill in Phoenix, Arizona is scheduled to plead guilty to a felony offense related to a federal investigation into fraudulent hiring practices at the restaurant chain. Diego Armando Gonzalez-Rosales, 36, will admit to helping an undocumented immigrant get a job by providing him with a fake driver's license and Social Security card in October 2024.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges restaurants face in verifying employee eligibility and the potential legal consequences for managers who knowingly assist undocumented workers in gaining employment using fraudulent documents. The Zipps raids and charges also reflect broader tensions around immigration enforcement and worker rights.

The details

According to court documents, Gonzalez-Rosales will plead guilty to a felony offense of unlawful transfer, possession or use of a means of identification. As part of the plea deal, his sentence will be limited to time served or up to 5 months in prison. Gonzalez-Rosales, an undocumented immigrant himself, also faces possible deportation. He will be the first Zipps employee to enter a guilty plea since federal agents raided 14 Zipps locations in the Phoenix area in January 2026, leading to the arrest of 39 workers.

  • On January 26, 2026, federal immigration agents raided 14 Zipps Sports Grill locations in the Phoenix area.
  • In February 2025, federal agents received a tip alleging that Zipps regularly employed undocumented workers using fraudulent documents.
  • In October 2024, Gonzalez-Rosales allegedly helped an undocumented immigrant get a job at Zipps by providing him with fake ID documents.
  • On March 10, 2026, Gonzalez-Rosales is scheduled to plead guilty to the felony charge.

The players

Diego Armando Gonzalez-Rosales

A 36-year-old former kitchen hiring manager at Zipps Sports Grill who is scheduled to plead guilty to a felony offense for helping an undocumented immigrant get a job using fake identification documents.

Zipps Sports Grill

A popular restaurant chain in the Phoenix, Arizona area that federal investigators allege regularly employed undocumented workers using fraudulent documents.

Rachel Gendreau

An assistant federal public defender who argued that Gonzalez-Rosales was being made a "scapegoat" by Zipps management, who were also aware of the fraudulent hiring practices.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He is being made a scapegoat by the company that employed him. They were aware of the conduct and engaging in it themselves.”

— Rachel Gendreau, Assistant Federal Public Defender (azcentral.com)

“Every manager knows that many IDs that are used are fake. You can see a guy named William with a Mexican face.”

— Diego Armando Gonzalez-Rosales (azcentral.com)

“Managers know they can get through the E Verify inspection with fake identity documents, and they do not care. The IDs have American names with Mexican workers using them, and the fake IDs are poorly made, like a playing card.”

— Diego Armando Gonzalez-Rosales (azcentral.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on March 10 whether to accept Gonzalez-Rosales' guilty plea and determine his sentence, which is expected to be limited to time served or up to 5 months in prison.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges restaurants face in verifying employee eligibility and the potential legal consequences for managers who knowingly assist undocumented workers in gaining employment using fraudulent documents. It also reflects broader tensions around immigration enforcement and worker rights in the restaurant industry.