Mariana Yepez, a restaurateur behind the expanding Los Angeles street food chain Ricos Tacos Naomi, has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the death of an employee. Yepez, 43, along with a co-worker, faces allegations linked to the killing of 47-year-old Soledad Lopez, who was last seen alive on September 7.

Yepez, originally from Sonora, Mexico, and her husband began their entry into the local food industry by working at various food trucks and restaurants before opening their own series of taco stands in 2018. Named after their daughter, the Ricos Tacos Naomi brand grew to nearly a dozen outlets operating across regions extending from Long Beach through Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley. The venture attracted attention and commendation from several noted food critics for its specialties such as fatty cabeza and al pastor.

The murder investigation gained momentum after video footage captured Lopez leaving work with a fellow employee, Sandra Romo Diaz. Both Romo Diaz and a second employee are also involved in the legal proceedings, with the latter facing direct murder charges.

Authorities noted that immigration enforcement efforts have introduced additional challenges to the ongoing probe, complicating efforts to clarify the circumstances of Lopez’s disappearance and death. Details regarding how these enforcement actions have specifically impeded the investigation were not disclosed.

The case has sent ripples through the local food community, raising concerns about workplace safety and legal complications amid a vibrant but often informal street food economy in Los Angeles. Prosecutors are continuing their inquiry into the allegations against Yepez and the employees involved, as the community awaits further developments in the case.