NISSWA, MINNESOTA — The former owner of a Nisswa hotel is facing felony charges after allegedly luring an immigrant woman to Minnesota with the promise of a free vacation, then forcing her to work at the hotel and threatening her when she tried to leave, according to a criminal complaint. Vijay Patel, 52, is charged with felony labor trafficking and threats of violence in connection with allegations dating from July through September 2024. The victim, a woman from Guyana, told authorities she responded to an advertisement offering a free vacation in Nisswa. Instead, prosecutors allege she was brought to Nisswa Inn and Suites and made to work without the promised arrangements. Promise of a Free Vacation According to the criminal complaint, the woman purchased her own plane ticket from New York to Minnesota after being told she would be reimbursed. After arriving, she was taken to the hotel and told she would “clock in the morning,” the complaint states. The following morning, a manager allegedly instructed her to take a vacuum and begin cleaning the motel. The complaint describes an encounter in which Patel allegedly told the woman to “bend over and pick things up off the floor.” She told investigators she looked around but did not see anything that needed to be picked up. Patel allegedly responded, “Work smart, not hard.” Alleged Threats and Demands for Nude Photos The complaint alleges Patel later began demanding that the woman send him nude photographs and threatened her when she asked to return home. According to court documents, the woman sent messages pleading with Patel to let her leave, telling him she was being held against her will. One message quoted in the complaint stated: “You people force me to work for you without means or anything please send me home.” Patel allegedly responded: “You have to stay there you came to work for me now.” When the woman threatened to contact police, Patel allegedly threatened to kill her. A message included in the complaint stated: “If you should tell the police anything, I will kill you [victim’s name] stay there.” More Threats After She Left The complaint alleges Patel continued sending threatening messages after the woman was able to leave the hotel. In one message, he allegedly made a racially derogatory remark and wrote, “I employed you to work for me as a slave.” Other messages allegedly threatened to rape and shoot the woman before disposing of her body. The woman also told authorities that other immigrant women working at the hotel were subjected to similar treatment. Hotel Ownership County property records show Sri Ganesh LLC, a company managed by Patel, owned Nisswa Inn and Suites from 2013 until the property was sold in July 2025. The sale occurred approximately one year after the alleged trafficking and threats described in the criminal complaint. Patel is facing two felony charges. The allegations have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Source: Criminal complaint; Crow Wing County property records.