Executive Summary
- An investigation identified nearly 60 hotels and motels on Long Island linked to sex trafficking and prostitution charges.
- Approximately 17% of the reviewed cases involved the trafficking of minors, including an 11-year-old victim.
- Lawsuits have been filed against major hotel franchises under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
- Local authorities have conducted raids resulting in closures, though illicit activity remains resilient due to network mobility.
A comprehensive investigation has identified nearly 60 hotels and motels across Long Island, New York, as operational hubs for sex trafficking and prostitution, with a significant percentage of reviewed cases involving minors. The findings, released by Newsday following a review of police and court records, highlight a persistent illicit economy thriving within both budget accommodations and major corporate hospitality chains despite ongoing law enforcement efforts.
According to the data compiled by investigative reporters, approximately 17% of the 59 hotel cases reviewed involved the trafficking of minors. In one egregious instance cited in police records, an 11-year-old girl from Ohio was rescued by the FBI and Suffolk County Police at a Red Roof Inn in Copiague. Authorities stated the child was found in a room filled with condoms and cash, alongside a 35-year-old woman. In another case, federal prosecutors detailed how a trafficker tortured two women with a hot iron at the Clarion Hotel in Ronkonkoma to enforce compliance.
The investigation utilized surveillance and online data analysis to map the scope of the activity. Babylon Town investigators, utilizing unmarked vehicles and monitoring websites like Megapersonals, observed open solicitation at various locations. During a single morning, 99 advertisements for prostitution were logged across 46 Long Island communities, with many listings specifically referencing hotel availability.
Legal pressure is mounting against hospitality franchises. Attorneys have filed lawsuits under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act against major chains, including Wyndham, Best Western, and Red Roof, alleging that operators knew or should have known about the trafficking occurring on their premises. Court filings describe red flags such as cash payments, frequent foot traffic, and visible physical abuse of victims in public areas. While some chains declined to comment, others, like the Red Roof Inn in Westbury, have legally denied the allegations.
Local enforcement has led to closures and arrests. The Sayville Motor Lodge was raided in November 2022, resulting in federal convictions for sex trafficking. Prosecutors alleged the owners were complicit, providing cheap rooms to pimps and alerting them to police presence. Conversely, some proprietors stated they have implemented stricter protocols, such as mandatory identification checks and security camera installations, to deter criminal activity.
Regulatory Oversight and Public Safety Implications
The widespread nature of these findings underscores the complex challenge local municipalities face in regulating the hospitality sector to prevent criminal exploitation. While law enforcement utilizes tactical raids and surveillance, the mobility of trafficking networks often allows operations to shift rapidly between jurisdictions. The increasing use of civil litigation against hotel franchises may establish new legal precedents regarding corporate liability for crimes committed on franchise property, potentially forcing stricter industry-wide compliance standards. It is important to note that all individuals and business entities charged or named in these investigations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
