Mehul Chandubhai Patel, Lying to the US Department of Labor, Michigan 2024

Battle Creek hotel owner Mehul Chandubhai Patel, a/k/a ‘Mike Patel,’ 31, of Battle Creek, Michigan, has been caught in a web of deception after pleading guilty to lying to Labor Department investigators about the wages paid to his staff.

According to a recent press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Patel was found to have underpaid his hotel employees in 2014 and subsequently signed an agreement to repay them. However, instead of providing the back wages to his employees, Patel sent checks to the Department of Labor indicating that he had done so. This was a deliberate attempt to conceal the fact that he required his employees to return the money to him.

The charges stem from Patel’s violation of minimum wage rules in connection with two hotels operated by him, in Battle Creek and Coldwater, Michigan. Patel’s actions have significant consequences, not only for the employees who were underpaid but also for the integrity of the labor system.

Patel faces up to five years in prison, restitution, and other penalties. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney will impose sentence on Patel.

The prosecution of this matter has been assigned to Timothy VerHey, Assistant U.S. Attorney. The investigation involved the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Battle Creek Police Department.

Mehul Chandubhai Patel, a/k/a ‘Mike Patel,’ is the defendant in this case. The exact criminal charges against him are concealing a material fact from the federal government when obligated to disclose it.

Patel appeared in federal court on today’s date before Magistrate Judge Ellen Carmody and pled guilty to the crime. The city and state where the crime occurred are Battle Creek, Michigan.

The outcome of this case is still pending, but Patel faces significant penalties, including up to five years in prison, restitution, and other penalties.

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