Another political pickle? Federal deputies spotted at the Capitol

Federal agents came knocking at the state Capitol again this week.

News of the raid spread fast, and sight of the deputies sent rumors swirling around the marble hallways. But this time a sandwich shop, not an elected official, was targeted.

In spring, FBI agents raided the office of Democratic state Sen. Leland Yee after allegedly ensnaring the San Francisco lawmaker in a sting operation. Yee faces federal corruption charges and stands accused of trying to arrange the illegal sale of machine guns and shoulder-fired missiles to an undercover FBI agent.

In June 2013, FBI agents raided the office of Democratic state Sen. Ron Calderon of Montebello, who now faces federal political corruption and bribery charges.

On Thursday, it was the U.S. Marshals Service that showed up.

Only this time, much to the relief of legislative leaders, the investigation had nothing to do with an elected official.

The target was O! Deli, a tiny, independently owned sandwich shop in an annex off the historic Capitol dome. The owner, Dam Khan, had lost a labor relations case and owed former employees more than $20,000 in back pay and other fees, according to court records and government officials. The deputies dropped by Thursday to collect.

“U.S. marshals carried out a writ of execution involving the privately operated cafeteria located on the sixth floor of the state Capitol on Thursday. This activity involved the settlement of a judgment involving the proprietor,’’ said Will Shuck, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego).

Deputy U.S. Marshall Frank Newsom in Sacramento said the agency had a court order to seize the cash at the deli, an operation known as a “till tap.”

Khan did not return multiple messages seeking comment.

The deli was closed on Friday.