Image source: Motel 6 in Atlanta, GA, © Google, via Google Maps, one of the hotels named in the sex trafficking lawsuit.
Andreozzi + Foote has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on behalf of a survivor, alleging that multiple Atlanta hotels facilitated and financially benefited from the sex trafficking she endured. The complaint names Motel 6, Super 8, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Atlanta Midtown – Buckhead, Microtel, Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, and The Whitley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Atlanta Buckhead as defendants.
The Survivor’s Story
According to the complaint, the victim was between 15 and 16 years old when she was trafficked by brothers Quintavious and Jamaal Obie, who offered her a place to stay and promised her that they would “set her up” with a way to make money to take care of herself.
Backpage, a website shut down by the FBI in 2018 for facilitating prostitution and trafficking, was used to advertise the victim. The traffickers controlled the victim with threats, drugs, and alcohol, and forced her to book hotel rooms using Quintavious’ wife’s identification.
For nearly a year, the victim was trafficked out of hotel rooms across Atlanta until the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found her through a Backpage ad. The GBI then performed a sting operation at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, which led to her rescue.
While Jamaal Obie was never located, Quintavious Obie (also known as Swayzii or Shank) was arrested, prosecuted, and later convicted of sex trafficking and witness tampering.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, “Quintavious Obie lured young women from rural areas in South Carolina to Atlanta with promises of a lucrative lifestyle. However, once they arrived in Atlanta, they were forced into a life of prostitution through mental and physical abuse. The victims were forced to engage in prostitution and to turn over to Obie all of the money they received. His victims were not allowed to go anywhere without his knowledge nor see anyone unless they were a paying client. Any deviation from his rules brought severe punishment.”
In 2019, Quintavious was sentenced to 21.5 years in prison, “to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.” (Justice.gov) He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
Hotels Accused of Profiting From Trafficking
The lawsuit alleges that the named hotels failed to take action despite numerous red flags of trafficking, including:
- A constant stream of sex buyers entering and leaving the traffickers’ rooms
- Suspicious items, including drugs, condoms, lubricants, and cash left in plain sight for housekeeping
- Loud disturbances coming from the rooms
- The victim being verbally and physically abused in sight and earshot of hotel staff
According to the complaint, staff not only ignored these warning signs but in some cases acted as “lookouts” to alert traffickers of possible police presence. By renting rooms and providing services, the hotels allegedly financially benefited from the trafficking venture in violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and Georgia law. Under the TVPRA, survivors of sex trafficking can bring civil claims against businesses that knowingly benefit from trafficking.
Civil Accountability After Criminal Convictions
While the criminal justice system punished Quintavious Obie, this case seeks to hold hotels that profited from trafficking accountable within the civil justice system.
Civil lawsuits can provide survivors with financial compensation for therapy, medical care, lost income, and the overall costs of long-term recovery. In addition to helping survivors rebuild their lives, these cases also serve to hold businesses accountable when they ignore trafficking and profit from it, pushing them to adopt stronger anti-trafficking policies.
Support and Resources
If you were trafficked at one of the hotels named in this lawsuit, or anywhere else, please contact law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Your voice matters, and reaching out is an important step toward safety and healing.
National Human Trafficking Hotline:
📞 1-888-373-7888 (24/7, confidential)
📱 Text “BEFREE” (233733)
🌐 humantraffickinghotline.org
Can I File a Lawsuit Against a Hotel?
If you were trafficked and want to know your legal options, contact Andreozzi + Foote for a confidential consultation.
Our attorneys have extensive experience representing survivors of sex trafficking and we recognize how overwhelming it can feel to take that first step.
Our team will listen with compassion, explain your options, and support you in making decisions at your own pace.
Whether you choose to move forward with legal action or simply want to learn more about your rights, we are here to stand with you in the fight for justice.
