Gujarat man arrested in US for human trafficking, sexual crimes

AHMEDABAD: A 42-year-old man from Gujarat has been arrested in the United States on charges of human trafficking, sexual abuse, rape, and theft by deception, following allegations by two women who worked for him at a local business in Kentucky.According to the Paducah police department in Kentucky, Vikas Patel, a travel agent by profession, was arrested on Monday afternoon and lodged in the McCracken County Jail. The arrest followed a detailed investigation that began in Dec 2025 after a woman approached police with a complaint related to her employment and housing arrangement with Patel.The complainant told investigators that she previously worked for Patel and had entered into an agreement to rent an apartment from him during her employment. After moving into the apartment, Patel allegedly began withholding her entire wages, which she said was not part of their rental agreement. Police said detectives later confirmed that her wages were deposited into a bank account belonging to Patel.The woman further alleged that during her employment, Patel repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances and inappropriately touched her. Based on these allegations, detectives expanded the probe, which led to a second woman coming forward with additional information.The second complainant told police that she worked for Patel while she was under 18 years of age. During that period, she alleged, Patel subjected her to commercial sexual activity involving another man. She also told investigators that after leaving Patel's employment, she was contacted and asked to retrieve her personal belongings. When she arrived at a hotel, she was allegedly lured into a room by Patel and sexually assaulted by an unknown male.Based on the findings of the investigation, Patel was charged with human trafficking involving commercial sexual activity of a minor, first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree rape under complicity, and theft by deception involving an amount under $10,000.