Community 'Shocked' By Immigrant Businessman's Arrest

Tuesday’s police raids of several Mexican groceries and indictment of 13 people on drug charges has shocked the central Ohio community. Among those charged is the owner of the chain of stores. The immigrant businessman was known for his work in the community. By all accounts, Liborio Alcauter is an immigrant success story. The La Michiocana Mexican Market owner emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. in the mid-80s and became an American citizen. Alcauter opened his market business in 2000, and over the years he expanded to nine stores throughout Columbus. They became popular among Hispanic shoppers and others just looking for fresh exotic produce and meats. But Tuesday, police swarmed the stores and arrested Alcauter and others. He faces charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Investigators allege his stores were used to launder drug money. Past President of the Columbus Hispanic Chamber Ken Ramos says he was shocked by the news. He says Alcauter served as a role model for the immigrant business community and was civic-minded. “Various times he’s allowed people to have meetings in his stores for voter registration, immigration issues and stuff. So he’s always been available for the community.” Ramos adds there was never any indication Alcauter was involved in any seedy activity. “We’re a strong community. People are doing the right things. We support each other. We help each other. And I think [Alcauter] did, too," Ramos says. "If he did something outside of that, we weren’t aware of it.” Those who work near Alcauter’s stores, and frequent them often, were upset by the news. A store owner near one of Alcauter’s markets expressed outrage about the allegations. “I will never go there again. Their food is not clean.” The woman is talking about what Muslim’s call haram which means “sinful.” She declined to give her name for fear of retaliation. She was adamant she will never shop at Alcauter’s markets again. “We are scared. It’s danger. Those things are dangerous things. In particular, we are Muslim. That is illegal thing. You taking the money and buy the food and put it there. And we’re eating it. No Muslim is going to go there again," the woman said. Not everyone was as outraged as that woman. Others said they were “disappointed” or “shocked.” George Moss owns Brother’s Finest barber shop a few doors down from the Cleveland Avenue La Michoacana market in North Linden. “They run such a clean business, a clean store down there. I shop there quite often, so it was really quite a surprise to me," Moss says. Mike Harris, who owns Mobile Mike’s Auto and Electric Service near the Morse Road market, says he worked with Alcauter at the Northland Community Festival a couple of years ago. And he says Alcauter patronized his store, as well. “I’ve worked on his cars and his employees’ cars and trucks and things over the last six years. And he seemed to be a pretty nice guy," Harris says. It’s unknown what will happen to the markets. They were open for business a day after the raids. Local authorities say a judge will make a decision on the stores’ long term future.