Mexican fast food chain Chipotle announced yesterday that it’s the subject of an investigation by federal prosecutors into the possibility that it violated criminal securities laws with its hiring practices.

Chipotle said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it found out about the investigation on Monday, when contacted by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia.

This isn’t the first time Chipotle’s name has come up in regard to hiring practices: In 2010 and 2011 Chipotle fired hundreds of workers, after audits by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arm revealed undocumented workers. Chipotle said at the time that each worker was given the chance to show documentation proving they were legally in the country.

From Reuters:

In its SEC filing on Tuesday, Chipotle said the U.S. attorney’s office is “conducting an investigation into possible criminal securities law violations relating to our employee work authorization verification compliance and related disclosures and statements.”

“We intend to continue to fully cooperate in the government’s investigations,” Chipotle said.

Chipotle facing criminal securities probe [Reuters]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.