Two former staff members from a North Carolina restaurant have raised allegations that the establishment allowed undocumented immigrants to use their Social Security numbers and personal details to gain employment after they had left the company.
Evan Donovan, one of the former employees, mentioned that while preparing his taxes, he discovered a W2 form indicating he had earned an extra $20,000 at the restaurant following his departure from the job. This was reported by WSOC-TV.
In February, Donovan contacted local law enforcement to report that his personal details had been unlawfully used by another worker at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Huntersville for months after he left the job in July.
Donovan was not the only person whose information had been compromised. Another former staff member, who was employed at the restaurant from January to November 2025, shared that she accessed the establishment’s employee database and noticed current employees utilizing their names and Social Security numbers to secure jobs there.
Both of these former employees indicated that while their Social Security numbers were used, other information—including names, addresses, and banking details—was altered to reflect someone else’s information.
Firebirds, which has numerous locations across Arizona and beyond, did not provide any comments regarding the situation.
The company stated, “We are aware of the investigation by the Huntersville Police Department and are cooperating with authorities. Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further.”
Adelana Martinez from Aplus 08 Bookkeeping and Tax Services advised that anyone who suspects their personal information has been compromised should file a police report. Filling out Form 14039 alerts the IRS that their Social Security details are being misused.
Experts recommend that individuals who think their Social Security number has been improperly used should quickly contact their bank or credit card provider to freeze their accounts and investigate any unauthorized transactions. It’s essential for victims to register with credit services like Experian, TransAmerica, and Equifax, as well as to freeze their credit until the matter is sorted out.
Additionally, a federal website, IdentityTheft.gov, is available for victims to report identity theft and start the process of clearing their records.
However, experts caution that victims whose identities have been stolen may initially face tax liabilities if they do not address their credit and tax records promptly.
