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https://www.azfamily.com/2024/09/24/fbi-seizes-phoenix-motel-alleged-drug-offenses-money-laundering/

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A small motel off a heavily traveled Phoenix freeway is set to close its doors for good after federal investigators found evidence that the owners allegedly helped sex workers, pimps and drug dealers operate on the property.

FBI agents raided the Royal Inn, near I-17 and Bethany Home Road, over the alleged crimes early Tuesday with the help of Phoenix police detectives.

Arizona’s Family Investigates obtained the 44-count federal indictment filed last week, which names the two hotel operators and references other defendants facing drug distribution charges over the sale of meth and fentanyl.

FBI agents and Phoenix Police officers responded to Royal Inn, near I-17 and Bethany Home...

Who operated the Royal Inn?

The Royal Inn was operated by cousins Varsha Patel and Nilam Patel under a company registered as Sarang Hospitality, which federal prosecutors say primarily rented rooms to people involved in prostitution and drug dealing.

Federal authorities say that Nilam was the hotel’s day-to-day manager, worked in the front office, and lived there.

The feds say that the pair would use the hotel earnings to pay the monthly mortgage payment and utilities for the motel and the mortgage for a home in Chino Hills, Calif., a suburb about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Prosecutors say the Royal Inn is about two blocks from “The Blade,” an area well known for prostitution, and that the sex workers often used the motel to have sex with their customers under the guise of “dates” or “escorts.”

“They essentially operated a marketplace for illicit activity located steps away from a neighborhood where children walk into school every morning and they profited for years while turning a blind and uncaring eye for families that live in that neighborhood,” said Jose Perez, FBI special agent in charge for the Phoenix field office.

Phoenix Police say motel operators did nothing to stop illegal activity

In early 2015, Varsha and an unnamed family member reportedly met with Phoenix police officers who noted high crime rates at the motel. Recommendations from the meeting included reducing the number of cash-paying customers, immediate evictions for rule-breaking and better parking lot monitoring.

Then, in May 2017, a Phoenix Police investigator contacted the hotel over a prostitution investigation involving a sex worker and her boyfriend staying at the Royal Inn.

During that investigation, Nilam allegedly said she was familiar with the sex worker and said that the boyfriend paid for the room. The officer told Nilam that many prostitutes and men stayed at the hotel, to which she responded that all people deserved a place to live and that she was providing a service.

Almost two years to the day later, in May 2019, a Phoenix police official spoke with Nilam, noting that there had been nearly 200 calls for service since January 2017 and that the motel was a nuisance for prostitution and drug dealing. In that call, the police suggested the operators be proactive and call the police for any suspicious criminal activity.

In 2022, things quickly escalated with law enforcement. Phoenix police served Nilam with an abatement letter regarding the reported criminal activity, suggesting that the operators ask for a credit card with a matching ID and that the hotel enact stricter guidelines like having only two adults in a room and having visitors check in with management.

Federal prosecutors say that didn’t help; instead, it worsened.

In June 2023, the motel was served with another abatement letter and over 177 calls for service since the start of the year. However, when the letter was being served, Varsha said her nephew was acting on her behalf due to “medical issues.”

Specifically, the feds allege that Nilam knowingly rented rooms to people who overtly engaged in prostitution, directing sex workers to attract sex buyers off the property and directing them to walk separately before entering the room.

Additionally, Nilam allegedly alerted sex workers, pimps and drug dealers to park off the property. The indictment says she also had guests alerted of their law enforcement presence and failed to call the police when criminal activities occurred.

Nilam faces 37 charges, while Varsha faces 40 charges, mostly involving money laundering but including racketeering and operating a drug house.

Varsha’s three additional charges are related to making a false statement to the Small Business Administration over a COVID-19 business relief loan used to operate the motel, which requires borrowers not to be “engaged in any illegal activity.”

What’s next for the motel?

Arrest warrants have been issued for both Varsha Patel and Nilam Patel, who federal authorities emphasized are not facing human trafficking charges.

“They are not charged with trafficking nor we have any evidence to to suggest that they were aware of human trafficking at the Royal Inn, this is commercial sex with a minor, or at force, fraud, or coercion,” said U.S. District Attorney Gary M. Restaino.

The other named defendants, Anthony Curtis, Otis Childers, and Cauntelle Mills, have warrants issued for their arrest.

The DOJ also addressed current tenants and guests at the motel, many of whom are believed to be prostitutes.

“Our focus here today, in the days to come, is to identify any sex workers located on the premises during the execution of the warrant; to listen them, to investigate anyone who caused them harm, and ensure referrals to services that can help them move forward,” Restaino said.

Federal authorities confirmed Tuesday that Leonardo Guerrero was the only named defendant in custody at this time.