SEX TRAFFICKING IN NORTH CAROLINA

Sex trafficking is a horrific crime which causes victims to be stripped of their freedom, dignity, and safety. 

At Levy Konigsberg, we are fighting for survivors of sex trafficking in North Carolina, including survivors who experienced sex trafficking in hotels and motels, and in any other facility or location.

If you or a loved one have been hurt by sex trafficking in North Carolina, it’s vital to know that help is available. Together, we can shine a light on this dark reality. Contact Levy Konigsberg today.

What is Sex Trafficking?

• Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking where a person is forced to perform sexual acts by threats, coercion, or intimidation. If a child under the age of 18 is made to engage in for-profit sexual activity, regardless of the use of force or threatened coercion, the perpetrator is guilty of violating federal law. Any offender who partakes in sex trafficking by recruiting, sheltering, transporting, advertising, or soliciting victims to provide commercial sexual services is guilty of a federal crime. Perpetrators of sexual trafficking crimes often transport victims through commercial airports and other forms of public transportation to hotels, motels, salons and sporting events to engage in coerced sexual activity.

Legislation Provides Criminal and Civil Liability to Perpetrators

• Businesses and institutions that engage in sex trafficking are now subject to state and federal civil claims brought by victims of trafficking schemes. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (“Act”), which has been amended several times since its inception, provides that human trafficking is a crime under the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. The Act assigns criminal liability to perpetrators who receive sexual services from those forced into trafficking. It also authorizes victims to file civil claims against businesses and institutions that “knowingly benefit from their participation in what they knew or should have known” was sex trafficking activities.

Sex Trafficking in Hotels and Motels

• Hotels and motels across the country have become some of the most common places of abuse for survivors of human trafficking and sex trafficking, according to Homeland Security Investigations. The Polaris Project, a nonprofit fighting sex trafficking, reported that nearly 9,000 victims of sex trafficking identified hotels as the places where the trafficking and abuse occurred. Hotels and motels have a responsibility to identify and act upon red flags for sexual abuse and trafficking occurring in their rooms and on their property.

• Lawsuits targeting major hotel chains have proliferated in recent years, spurred by the expanded rights afforded under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Over the past two years, a wave of litigation has swept across the nation, with trafficking survivors taking legal action against prominent hotel brands like Hilton, Marriott, and Wyndham. These lawsuits allege that these hotels were either aware of or should have been aware of the presence of sex trafficking and exploitation on their premises, and that they profited from these illicit activities. Several of these legal battles have culminated in substantial financial settlements.

• When hotels are implicated in human trafficking, lawsuits may ensue, initiated either by the victims themselves or by governmental bodies. Typically, these legal actions assert that the hotel failed to implement adequate measures to prevent trafficking or neglected to report suspected instances to the authorities. Moreover, hotels may be held responsible for the damages inflicted upon trafficking victims, encompassing physical and psychological harm, lost income, and other associated losses.

• To combat human trafficking effectively, hotels are expected to establish robust anti-trafficking protocols, encompassing employee training to identify and report signs of trafficking, the implementation of monitoring systems to detect suspicious activities, and collaboration with law enforcement agencies during trafficking investigations. Moreover, hotels should have been cognizant of resources such as the End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT-USA) guidelines and the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct, as well as advisories from the Department of Homeland Security, which outline indicators of human trafficking, including signs of physical neglect, constant surveillance, and unusual requests for housekeeping services without room entry. Failure to adhere to these standards may render hotels liable for their complicity in facilitating trafficking.

• In many instances, the negligence exhibited by hotels appears deliberate, with knowledge of sex trafficking coupled with a deliberate disregard for addressing it. Numerous customer reviews of these establishments contain complaints from guests regarding overt prostitution and human trafficking activities transpiring within the premises, underscoring the willful blindness exhibited by these hotels.

History of Sex Trafficking in North Carolina

Examples of sex trafficking in North Carolina in recent years include:

• In November 2025, reports highlighted a significant rise in human trafficking cases in North Carolina, with the state ranking ninth nationally for such crimes. 

In 2024, 145 cases of sex trafficking were identified but many cases allegedly went unreported.

Traffickers allegedly targeted school-aged children, often through online platforms, including social media, gaming apps, and dating apps.

• In November 2025, a lawsuit was filed in Raleigh, North Carolina, alleging that staff at a Motel 6 knowingly allowed a 16-year-old victim to be repeatedly abused by sex traffickers between 2017 and 2018. 

Motel employees allegedly witnessed clear signs of abuse, including victims walking around the premises impaired by drugs and alcohol, appearing sleep-deprived, malnourished, with visible bruises, and wearing sexually explicit clothing. There were suspicious activities, such as heavy foot traffic, cash transactions, and drugs, condoms, and lubricants in the rooms. Despite these indicators, the staff allegedly failed to intervene and, at times, acted as lookouts for police.

• In December 2024, it was reported that traffickers allegedly exploited the vulnerabilities left by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Traffickers coerced victims, with offers of food, shelter, and wages.

• In October 2024, it was reported that D’Angelo Taborn and Imani Franco, were arrested following a sting operation in Jacksonville, North Carolina, that uncovered their alleged involvement in trafficking women for commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion.

• In December 2022, a lawsuit was filed in Raleigh, North Carolina, alleging that the victim was forced into sex trafficking in Fayetteville by two traffickers in 2019. 

The traffickers allegedly controlled her through physical violence, forced drug use, and intimidation. They advertised her for commercial sex on websites known for trafficking and kept her under constant surveillance. 

Over the course of two months, she was allegedly held captive in multiple hotels, including Red Roof Inn, Coliseum Inn, and Cardinal Inn & Suites, where she was coerced into performing sex acts with five to ten men daily.

The lawsuit claims that hotel staff allegedly overlooked clear signs of abuse, such as her physical condition, frequent linen changes, large quantities of used condoms, and an unusual number of male visitors entering and leaving her room. 

• In May 2016, Shahid Hassan Muslim, also known as Sharp, was sentenced to life in prison in North Carolina for operating a violent sex trafficking enterprise. 

From at least 2010 until his arrest in November 2013, Muslim allegedly recruited vulnerable young women and underage girls from the Charlotte area, luring them with false promises of being part of a family. He used brutal violence, intimidation, and manipulation to exploit them.

Muslim allegedly handcuffed and beat a teenage victim after accusing her of withholding money. In another instance, he burned a victim’s leg with a cigarette. He also reportedly punched a victim in the stomach then dragged her by her hair to a bathroom where he continued to beat her until she vomited. 

Another victim was allegedly kidnapped after attempting to leave and report him to the police. Muslim allegedly lured her to a hotel under false pretenses, attacked her, shoved her into a storage trunk, and transported her to his house. There, he allegedly handcuffed her, bound her feet, and continued to beat her. He allegedly left her overnight in a shower with cold water running until she escaped the next day.

Muslim allegedly continued to intimidate and manipulate victims even after his arrest, coercing one victim into submitting a false affidavit to dismiss state charges and harassing another into providing false testimony about a sexually explicit video he had produced when she was 16 years old. The investigation revealed that Muslim allegedly avoided hitting victims in the face to avoid damaging what he referred to as his merchandise.

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if you were a victim of sex trafficking.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

• Your abuser is no longer alive.
• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

Sex Trafficking Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations sets deadlines for victims to bring claims against their abuser or entities responsible for the abuse. On September 16, 2022, federal legislation entitled “The Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2022” was enacted.  The Act eliminates the statute of limitations for a minor victim of certain federal human trafficking or sex offenses.  Under prior law, the statute of limitations for these claims was no later than 10 years after the date on which the plaintiff reasonably discovers the violation or injury, whichever occurs later, that forms the basis for the claim, or no later than 10 years after the date on which the victim reaches 18 years of age.  While the Act took effect on September 16, 2022, it does not revive claims that would have already been barred as of September 15, 2022 by the prior statute of limitations.  The Act only applies to claims or actions not previously barred that arise after September 16, 2022.  

To understand the statute of limitations for your case, it's essential to consult with an experienced lawyer. At Levy Konigsberg, our attorneys specialize in handling both childhood sexual abuse cases and adult sexual abuse cases. We can assess the merits of your potential case and determine how the statute of limitations specifically applies to the facts of your case.

Sex trafficking is a horrifying and inhumane crime that continues to plague communities in North Carolina. It robs individuals of their dignity, freedom, and safety, leaving behind a trail of pain and devastation. 

At Levy Konigsberg, we are here to help survivors of sex trafficking navigate their path to justice and healing.