Manitou Springs owner charged with fraud, extortion

A Watrous man is facing fraud and extortion charges after a seven-month long RCMP investigation.

RCMP received information from the Ministry of Labour Relations in early September 2014, alleging three employees were being mistreated at a business in Manitou, about six kilometers north of Watrous.

Investigators determined the employees were threatened with either losing their jobs or being removed from Canada if they didn’t pay money.

On Thursday, RCMP arrested 45-year-old Dwight Hayter, who is charged with three counts of extortion and three counts of fraud. He’s also charged with acceptance of repayment of wages by an employee under the Labour Standards Act.