Lawsuit claims sex trafficking took place in more than 20 Collier County hotels

By Rob Manch

COLLIER COUNTY — A new lawsuit, just filed in Collier County, shows a sex trafficking ring was operating in more than 20 different hotels for years.

Now, the victims are suing the hotel chains for $100 million in damages for not doing something about it. The brands named in the lawsuit include Best Western, La Quinta, Fairfield Inn, and Gulf Coast Inn.

“Our position is, basically, the hotels turned a blind eye. They knew, or they should have known, but it was an economic factor for them. These hotel rooms were being rented out,” said attorney Sharon Hanlon, who is representing the victims.

She said the hotels are at fault because the signs were unmistakable.

“Male traffickers were paying for the room with cash, and they would do it day by day, because they never knew when they were going to be raided on by the cops or anything,” said Hanlon.

And the lawsuit shows, in some cases, staff at the hotels didn’t just allow abuse, they joined in.