At Andreozzi + Foote, we stand with survivors of human trafficking, those whose voices have been silenced, whose trauma has been ignored, and whose suffering was enabled by powerful institutions that chose profit over people.
This week, our firm filed a sweeping federal lawsuit on behalf of S.J., a survivor of brutal sex trafficking, under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). The suit names multiple hotel chains and operators in the Harrisburg–Hershey region for knowingly allowing traffickers to use their properties as hubs for sexual exploitation over an extended period. C
S.J. was repeatedly trafficked through Holiday Inn Express, Inn of the Dove, Best Western Harrisburg North, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, among others. According to the complaint, these hotels financially benefited every time her traffickers rented rooms while staff overlooked and, in some cases, allegedly facilitated obvious indicators of trafficking taking place on their premises.
Her traffickers, identified in the suit as Tevin Bynoe and Miguel Arnold, used force, fraud, coercion, violence, and drugs to control her. Over and over again, they brought men into these hotel rooms to buy access to her body. And over and over again, hotel employees allegedly saw red flags and did nothing.
This case is not just about one survivor. It is about a pattern we see across the country where hotels choose to ignore trafficking because it is easier, cheaper, and more profitable not to intervene.
What the Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Alleges
The complaint outlines a devastating pattern of negligence and corporate indifference:
1. Hotels repeatedly rented rooms to known traffickers
The traffickers allegedly renewed rooms daily, paid in cash, and had a steady stream of unknown men coming and going—one of the most well-recognized signs of sex trafficking. Hotel staff witnessed this pattern and continued to rent rooms anyway.
2. Staff observed overt signs of abuse and coercion
According to the lawsuit, employees saw:
- Bruising, malnourishment, exhaustion, and distress
- Traffickers monitor hallways and hover over the victim
- Loud yelling, physical abuse, and disturbances are coming from the room
- Large amounts of cash, drugs, condoms, and paraphernalia are visible to housekeeping staff
These are not subtle indicators; they are flashing, neon warnings of trafficking. Yet, the hotels allegedly failed to intervene.
3. Hotels benefited financially from the sex trafficking
The TVPRA makes clear: any entity that knowingly benefits from participating in a trafficking venture can be held liable. Every payment these traffickers made to keep the rooms, Wi-Fi access, and amenities operating furthered the crime and enriched the hotels.
4. Hotels failed to implement required anti-trafficking policies
Despite years of federal guidance, industry warnings, and training resources available from DHS, ECPAT-USA, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the complaint alleges that the defendants:
- Failed to train staff
- Failed to monitor red flags
- Failed to report suspected trafficking
- Failed to create or enforce anti-trafficking policies
This failure, the suit argues, directly enabled S.J.’s continued exploitation.
Giving Survivors a Path to Justice
The TVPRA gives survivors the right to pursue civil claims against both the traffickers and the corporate entities that allowed the trafficking to flourish. These hotels had a legal and moral responsibility to act, and they didn’t. For S.J., and for countless others, that failure changed the course of her life.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we believe that holding institutions accountable is essential to dismantling the systems that perpetuate trafficking. Moreover, survivors deserve safety. They also deserve to be believed. Most importantly, they deserve justice.
A Statement From Attorney Nathaniel Foote
Attorney Nate Foote, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of S.J., emphasized the gravity of the case:
“Hotels have long been on notice about the warning signs of sex trafficking, yet too many continue to turn a blind eye. This lawsuit is about accountability, but it’s also about preventing the next victim from being harmed in these very same rooms.”
— Nathaniel L. Foote, Esq., Andreozzi + Foote
Why Hotel Accountability Matters
Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises in the world, and a significant portion of this exploitation occurs in hotels. In fact, the hospitality industry has long served as a “major life source of the human trafficking epidemic,” with traffickers intentionally selecting hotel properties because they know the warning signs will be overlooked or ignored.
This must end.
When businesses fail to protect vulnerable individuals, they effectively become part of the trafficking enterprise. As a result, their inaction enables traffickers to continue operating in plain sight. Through civil litigation, however, survivors can shine a powerful light on these systemic failures, and in doing so, they help drive the accountability and policy changes needed to protect others. Ultimately, this work creates the kind of systemic change that saves lives.
You Are Not Alone
Survivors of trafficking often suffer in silence, fearing retaliation or believing that no one will believe them. But there are pathways to justice, accountability, and healing.
Andreozzi + Foote represents survivors nationwide with trauma-informed, survivor-centered advocacy. If you or someone you love has experienced trafficking in a hotel or similar setting, we encourage you to contact our team.
Your voice matters. Your story matters. And you deserve justice.
Call: 866-753-5458