Former owner of Nisswa hotel faces labor trafficking, threats of violence charges

NISSWA, Minn. — The former owner of Nisswa Inn and Suites is accused of misleading a woman with a free trip to Nisswa — then forcing her to work at the hotel against her will. Vijay Kumar Ramanbhai Patel, 52, of Deerwood, Minnesota, was charged Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Crow Wing County District Court with one count of felony labor trafficking and one count of felony threats of violence. Patel is not in custody and is scheduled to make his first appearance on the criminal charges Dec. 7 in Crow Wing County District Court. According to the criminal complaint and summons filed against Patel, on Sept. 13, 2024, a Crow Wing County Sheriff’s investigator met with the victim, a woman from Guyana in South America, who said she was in New York City visiting family when she responded to an advertisement that offered her a free trip to see Nisswa. The woman bought a plane ticket, which she was told would be reimbursed, and arrived in Minnesota around July 28, 2024.

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