North Texas hotels ignore sex trafficking,
exploitation of children, lawsuit says

Three national hotel chains are accused of being complicit in sex trafficking at hotels across the country including various ones in North Texas, according to a federal lawsuit filed in Dallas this week.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a woman identified as F.M. who says she was sexually exploited at North Texas hotels beginning when she was 4 years old.  The woman is now in her 20s and lives in Tarrant County.

The lawsuit, filed by Houston-based Lanier Law Firm on Monday, includes Best Western, Hyatt and Red Lion hotels, and says that the companies ignored criminal activity occurring on their property and failed to protect victims of sex trafficking from exploitation.

“The hotel industry plays a crucial role in the sex trade,” said Lanier Law Firm founder Mark Lanier in a statement released Wednesday.  “For too long, the industry has profited by looking the other way when sex trafficking has been happening right in front of them.  We’re filing this lawsuit to get some justice for victims and to let these businesses know that their lack of action is unacceptable.”

In a statement Wednesday, BWH Hotel Group said, “Best Western International, Inc. condemns human trafficking.  It is a despicable crime and the criminals who intentionally inflict this suffering on their victims should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Best Western supports the industry’s efforts to raise awareness and fight against this inhumane and horrific crime.

“While Best Western branded hotels are independently owned and operated, we require that each member hotel complies with all laws and treats all hotel guests consistent with our core values of integrity, honesty, and respect for others’ dignity,” the statement continued.  “We provide information and training resources to member hotels on this serious issue such that hotels can educate their staff about how to recognize and report instances of trafficking.”

Officials at Red Lion and Hyatt could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

Best Western has more than 4,700 hotels in nearly 100 countries around the world, according to its website. As of September, Hyatt had more than 875 properties in 60 countries.  Red Lion has over 1,300 properties.

The suit specifically names Best Western Plus DFW Airport Suites, Hyatt House Dallas/Frisco, Best Western Irving Inn & Suites at DFW Airport, and the America’s Best Value Inn Irving/Dallas.

Sex trafficking generates an estimated $99 billion each year, making it the second-largest illicit crime industry behind the sale of illegal drugs, according to the lawsuit. More than 60 percent of sex trafficking offenses occur in hotels, while eight out of 10 arrests for human trafficking occur in or around hotels, the lawsuit says.

VICTIM SAYS SHE WAS DRUGGED AND ASSAULTED FOR YEARS

In the lawsuit, F.M. gave this account of being exploited:

Her father, to sustain his drug addiction, sold her to traffickers in Irving for sex when she was 4.

She was given unidentified pills by her trafficker on average to five to 10 times each day, according to the lawsuit.  Her traffickers would tie her and other children up and place them blindfolded in the back of a van.

When they arrived at a hotel, a hotel bellmen would be there to meet them and send them to assigned hotel rooms where buyers would be waiting for them, the lawsuit stated.

F.M. was bound, blindfolded and sent to rooms where “johns” were awaiting her and other children.  She was then tied to a bed and sexually assaulted, according to the lawsuit.

From age 4 to 18, F.M. was trafficked to buyers for sex and abuse at the Best Western Plus DFW Airport Suites, the Best Western Irving Inn & Suites at DFW Airport in Irving and the Hyatt House Dallas/Frisco in Frisco, she said in the suit.

By the age of 20, F.M. was in the possession of her third trafficker and being trafficked at America’s Best Value Inn Irving/Dallas in Irving, the suit says.

She was advertised on Craigslist.com

At the age of 20, F.M. was hospitalized and could not work.  Her trafficker punished her 2-year-old son by raping the child while F.M. watched, according to the lawsuit.

Her trafficker controlled her by making her dependent on methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

WARNING SIGNS

A number of nationwide campaigns recognized trafficking in the hotel industry and several hotel companies took initiative to combat the problem, but the lawsuit says Best Western, Hyatt and Red Lion have repeatedly failed to thwart sexual exploitation at their hotels.

The lawsuit listed some indicators of sex trafficking at a hotel.  They include:

• An excess of condoms in rooms.
• Individuals carrying large amounts of cash.
• Renting two rooms next door to each other.
• Declining room service for several hours.
• Men traveling with multiple women who appear unrelated.
• Guests checking in with little or no luggage.
• Women known to be staying in rooms without leaving.
• Hotel guests who prevent another individual from speaking for themselves.

The lawsuit listed more than 20 incidents of arrests and rescues of people and children in sex trafficking or exploitation cases at hotels operated by Red Lion, Hyatt and Best Western.