Las Vegas Hotel-Casinos Face Federal Lawsuit Over Alleged Human Trafficking Operation
Two women have filed a federal lawsuit against Boyd Gaming Corporation and Station Casinos, alleging that they were trafficked for years by Nathan Chasing Horse inside Las Vegas hotel-casinos. The plaintiffs claim they were forced into commercial sex acts at The Cannery Casino & Hotel and Santa Fe Station Hotel and Casino between 2014 and 2022. The lawsuit accuses the properties of knowingly benefiting from and enabling the abuse, with hotel staff allegedly ignoring warning signs and profiting from the operation.
Chasing Horse allegedly used multiple hotel rooms at a time and forced the women to engage in sex acts with multiple buyers during each visit. The lawsuit states that casino employees observed suspicious behavior, such as constant foot traffic of men entering and leaving rooms, visible bruising on the women, and signs of exhaustion and fear. The women were reportedly not allowed to interact with hotel staff and had to follow Chasing Horse throughout the casinos.
Attorneys for the women claim that Chasing Horse manipulated victims through coercion, isolation, threats, and physical abuse, leveraging his status as a self-proclaimed Lakota spiritual leader. The lawsuit also alleges that the women and other victims were branded with spider tattoos that would have been visible to hotel employees. The properties are accused of failing to implement anti-trafficking policies and training procedures, with hotel staff allegedly acting as lookouts for Chasing Horse.
The lawsuit was filed under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which allows survivors to pursue civil claims against entities accused of knowingly benefiting from trafficking ventures. Chasing Horse was recently sentenced to life in prison after being convicted on multiple sex crimes. Despite maintaining his innocence, he was found guilty of creating a "web of abuse" over nearly two decades. Survivors of sexual violence can seek support from RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline for free, confidential assistance in English and Spanish.
In conclusion, the lawsuit highlights the serious allegations of human trafficking and exploitation at Las Vegas hotel-casinos, shedding light on the need for businesses to recognize and act on warning signs to prevent such abuses from continuing unchecked. The legal action seeks justice for the survivors and holds the properties accountable for their alleged role in enabling the trafficking operation.