More charges have been announced in a federal drug and sex trafficking case involving 13 members of a violent drug gang known as the Sevens.

According to U.S. Attorney William McSwain, between December 2017 and March 2019, members of the Sevens engaged in racketeering, sex trafficking, kidnapping, attempted murder, and murder. The gang, which authorities said operated out of a boarding house in Reading, Pa., is facing charges related to at least 15 victims of sex trafficking and other crimes, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Two of the victims are minors. To protect the victims’ anonymity, they are identified in court documents by numbers rather than names.

Horrific Violence

WHYY reports that the gang may be responsible for the deaths of at least 8 victims, as well as the assault and sex trafficking of several others. One sex trafficking and assault victim was reportedly forced to engage in a sexual encounter with a gun held to her head. Another victim was said to have been locked naked in a dog kennel and photographed. The photographs were then used by gang members to advertise the gang’s sex trafficking business online.

According to court documents, gang members kidnapped the victims and then forced them to engage in commercial sex trafficking. One gang member allegedly rented hotel rooms in her own name at several hotels in the area where victims were then taken for trafficking. The hotels reportedly included the Reading Econo Lodge, the Inn at Reading in Wyomissing, Pa., and Klein’s Motel in Temple, Pa.

Victims who refused to comply with the gang’s orders to engage in commercial sex trafficking were allegedly threatened with knives and guns, assaulted, or locked naked in rooms or dog kennels. One victim told authorities that gang members cut her hair with garden shears and threatened to lock her in the trunk of a car, according to Berks Weekly.

Sex Trafficking Victims Place Partial Blame on Hotels

Recently, several lawsuits have been filed by sex trafficking victims not only against their abusers and traffickers, but also against the major hotel chains where the abuse took place. While many hotel chains report that all employees have been trained to recognize signs of sex trafficking and abuse, sex trafficking victims claim that these hotels have turned a blind eye in order to continue making a profit from traffickers.

Many sex trafficking victims have been housed in hotels at some point during their abuse. If you or a loved one is a victim of sex trafficking that took place in a hotel, you may be able to hire an experienced attorney and file a lawsuit against the hotel for failing to recognize or stop your exploitation. Victims may be able to recover compensation for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other costs.
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If you were a victim of sex trafficking and forced to work at a truck stop, hotel or motel, night club or other hotel venue, you may be eligible to move forward with a civil investigation against these businesses. This investigation involves a civil case, and is not a criminal case against you or your loved ones.

Top Class Actions is working with experienced human trafficking attorneys who will be informed and sensitive to your situation. Join the fight by filling out the short form on this page. 

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