Zipps Sports Grill hiring manager to change plea, court documents state

PHOENIX — The hiring manager of Zipps Sports Grill, accused of hiring employees using “fake identities,” has entered a change of plea. Diego Gonzalez-Rosales is scheduled to go before a judge on March 10, according to court filings.

RELATED: Records: Zipps manager told HSI he knew workers used ‘fake’ identities

Gonzalez-Rosales initially pleaded not guilty. A “change of plea” would mean he will enter a plea of not guilty or no contest. The court filing does not specify what he will change his plea to. 

In January, Gonzalez-Rosales was the hiring manager at Zipps Sports Grill and allegedly told federal investigators he knew that workers at the Valley restaurants were using “fake” identities to fill out employment paperwork. 

Court documents recently filed in federal court reveal more details about the Homeland Security Investigations operation targeting 14 Zipps restaurants across the Phoenix area. 

In February 2025, HSI was reportedly tipped off that Zipps’ employees had allegedly been using fraudulent documents to verify their eligibility to work. A month later, HSI requested from Zipps the company’s Form I-9 paperwork, which verifies the employment authorization of workers.

During a review of the records, HSI allegedly found instances where information on a Form I-9 was “being misused to gain employment.”

The federal agency has reported arresting more than 35 individuals after executing several search warrants at Zipps locations in Arizona earlier this week. 

One of the individuals interviewed by HSI, who was identified in court paperwork, was Gonzalez-Rosales. He reportedly oversaw the kitchens at Zipps’ locations. 

When questioned by investigators, Gonzales-Rosales initially said he did not know the legal status of restaurant workers but then allegedly stated “every manager knows that many of the IDs that are used are fake,” court records show.

Gonzales-Rosales further told investigators he allegedly helped employees to fill out paperwork, “knowing the identities were fake,” and that Zipps “rehired the same person under multiple different names.” Gonzales-Rosales is now facing charges that include aggravated identity theft.

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