Las Palmitas owners make first appearance in court

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The four owners of Las Palmitas restaurants in El Centro made their first court appearance in Brawley today.

This comes just days after they were arrested and charged in a state indictment for their alleged fraudulent use of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The suspects Samuel Vega, Annemarie Mendibles, Carlos Contreras, and Juan Diego Tom own the Las Palmitas restaurants in El Centro.

According to allegations, the FBI received information that Vega and the other owners of Las Palmitas allegedly misappropriated approximately ninety percent of the $500,000 they received through the PPP.

Imperial County Assistant District Attorney Margaret Tafoya outlined the next steps for the defendants and the state.

“They have a confirmation of counsel hearing today," said Tafoya. "So they would probably be back in court for that and then at that time we would likely set future dates, including a preliminary hearing date.”

All four appeared in court today.

Vega and Tom still don't have their own attorneys. 

They'll be back in court later this month.