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Activists demand Bronx motel be held accountable for alleged sex trafficking operation

Activists say a Bronx motel needs to be held accountable for alleged human trafficking.

News 12 Staff

Apr 2, 2021, 2:21 AM

Updated 1,343 days ago

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Activists say a Bronx motel needs to be held accountable for alleged human trafficking.
The Bloods gang was busted for allegedly running a prostitution ring at Pelham Garden Motel in December.
Monique Riley, of the Bronx, is a sex trafficking survivor and the CEO of Freedom Youth and Human Trafficking Survivor. She says has seen this situation play out time and time again. .
"We are tired of our young people being lured to this place,” she says.
Riley says she believes traffickers are still operating at the Pelham Garden Motel. She says two victims have been referred to her organization since the takedown, including one who was referred within the last week.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline reported a 40% increase in crisis cases, while requests for shelter have nearly doubled.
Pelham Garden Motel is near I-95. Experts say trafficking is common at motels near major interstates.
Riley says she will continue to confront motel staff, and she believes that they need to do more to prevent trafficking.
"It is your job to fix it, prevent it or leave," she says.
Motel staff says they received trafficking awareness training.
News 12 reached out to motel management for a comment.