The lawsuit filed against several Las Vegas casinos, including Mandalay Bay, The Venetian, and MGM Grand, alleges that they allowed sex trafficking operations to take place on their properties. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of an anonymous victim, Tyla D., who was trafficked at the age of 14 in 2006. The complaint claims that the casinos violated the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 and the Child Abuse Victims’ Rights Act of 1986.
According to the lawsuit, Tyla was forced by her traffickers to wander the casino floors and gamble on slot machines while looking for customers, using a fake ID under the name of Naina Santiago. Despite her young age, she was made to appear older and dressed in a sexually appealing manner. Tyla managed to escape her traffickers in 2007 but was forced back into sex work in casinos in 2013. The lawsuit alleges that despite the casinos’ investment in facial recognition technology, they chose to ignore Tyla’s presence.
The complaint also states that the casinos allowed Tyla to enter and gamble without performing necessary ID checks, and that staff turned a blind eye to her situation. The lawsuit highlights the casinos’ failure to recognize the signs of trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals. The issue of sex trafficking in casinos has been a longstanding problem in Las Vegas and other parts of the US.
In response to the allegations, the casinos have denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the case is beyond the statute of limitations and that they did not participate in or benefit from the trafficking operation. They emphasized their support for non-profit organizations that assist trafficking survivors and expressed sympathy for victims of trafficking. The defendants argue that they cannot be held legally responsible for the actions of Tyla’s traffickers or others involved in the crime.
Overall, the lawsuit sheds light on the disturbing reality of sex trafficking in Las Vegas casinos and the challenges faced by victims in seeking justice. It underscores the importance of holding establishments accountable for their role in enabling such criminal activities and the need for greater awareness and prevention efforts to combat sex trafficking in the industry.