Key Takeaways
- Andreozzi + Foote filed a federal lawsuit against hotel operators for allegedly benefiting from sex trafficking by convicted trafficker Benjamin Biancofiori
- The lawsuit claims that obvious signs of trafficking, such as visible injuries and disturbances, were ignored
- Biancofiori was convicted in 2018 of a sex trafficking conspiracy and other crimes and received a 30-year sentence
Andreozzi + Foote has filed a federal civil lawsuit alleging that operators of Chicago-area hotels knowingly benefited from sex trafficking involving a convicted criminal Benjamin Biancofiori.
This case highlights how a trafficker, later convicted in federal court, carried out abuse through violence and coercion, while the hotel operators allegedly allowed the activity to continue by failing to act on obvious and overt warning signs, raising critical questions about corporate responsibility.
Filed in the Northern District of Illinois under the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), the lawsuit seeks to hold the corporations that operated the hotels accountable.
Hotels Where the Trafficking Allegedly Occurred
According to the complaint, Benjamin Biancofiori trafficked the victim in this case at multiple hotel properties in and around the Chicago area in 2015 and 2016. These locations include:
- Motel 6 Elk Grove Village
- The Westin Chicago Lombard
- Extended Stay America Suites Chicago – Lombard – Yorktown Center
- Red Roof Inn Chicago-Downers Grove
- Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown
The lawsuit alleges that he frequently rented hotel rooms at the locations listed above and used them to facilitate commercial sex acts involving the survivor and other women.
The complaint further alleges that Biancofiori would physically beat the victim with such force that he caused noticeable bruising, swelling, and lacerations that would have been visible to employees at the hotels.
Corporate Defendants Named in the Lawsuit
The complaint names several corporate entities as defendants, alleging that they owned, operated, franchised, or financially benefited from the hotel properties where the trafficking allegedly occurred:
- O’Hare Airport Hotel LLC
- G6 Hospitality LLC
- Lombard Public Facilities Corporation
- Marriott International, Inc.
- ESA P Portfolio LLC
- BW RRI I LLC
- Red Roof Franchising, LLC
- Westloop Equities, L.L.C.
According to the complaint, these entities exercised control over hotel operations, policies, training, and revenue streams tied to the rooms where trafficking allegedly occurred.
Warning Signs the Lawsuit Claims Were Ignored
A central issue in the case is whether hotel staff and operators failed to act on clear and repeated indicators of trafficking. According to the complaint, the activity involved a constant flow of individuals entering and exiting rooms, visible signs of physical injury and distress, and disturbances suggesting ongoing abuse.
The complaint alleges that these warning signs were not isolated, but occurred repeatedly over time, yet no meaningful intervention took place. It also alleges that defendants continued renting rooms to the trafficker, despite prior incidents of similar activity at these properties.
According to the lawsuit, defendants failed to act on these obvious signs and did not implement reasonable anti-trafficking policies and procedures. As a result, the victim was repeatedly exploited on their premises, harm that the complaint alleges could have been prevented with appropriate practices.
Criminal Case Against the Benjamin “Beanz” Biancofiori
In 2018, Benjamin “Beanz” Biancofiori was found guilty in federal court in connection with his long-running sex trafficking operation in the Chicago area.
Federal investigators, including the FBI, conducted a multi-year investigation into his crimes. Prosecutors alleged that Benjamin Biancofiori exploited women for nearly a decade through manipulation, false promises, and violence, earning a reputation as a notorious trafficker in the region.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, “Prosecutors said Biancofiori trafficked ‘no less than 10 women.’ And in court records, they described his reign of terror over the victims in detail. They said he hit one woman until her face swelled and then bragged about abusing her. They said he pummeled the same woman for screaming for help when he raped her. He beat another woman so badly she lost control of her bladder, they said.”
In 2021, he was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
Support and Resources
If you are a victim of sex trafficking or exploitation, 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 exploited by Benjamin Biancofiori or another individual, and want to understand your legal options, our legal team is here to help.
Andreozzi + Foote offers free, confidential consultations for survivors of sex abuse and exploitation.
Our attorneys have extensive experience representing survivors of sex trafficking in Illinois and across the nation. Whether you choose to pursue legal action or simply want to learn more about your rights, we are here to stand with you in the fight for accountability and justice.
Contact us today.
Image Source: Extended Stay America Suites Chicago – Lombard – Yorktown Center, one of the hotels named the lawsuit, via Extended Stay America. Benjamin Biancofiori via Chicago Sun Times, courtesy of DuPage County Jail.
