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Contra Costa County woman, identified as Jane Doe, has filed a lawsuit against the owners of five Bay Area motels, alleging they enabled her sex trafficking between 2012 and 2017. The plaintiff claims she was held hostage at various motels in Richmond, Santa Rosa, Oakland, and San Pablo, subjected to beatings, forced labor, and other forms of abuse. Her alleged traffickers exploited the motels' lax policies, paying for extended stays and requesting rooms away from guests.

    The lawsuit targets the parent companies of the Civic Center Motel in Richmond, the Astro Motel in Santa Rosa, the Welcome Inn and Motel 6 Embarcadero in Oakland, and the former Sands Motel in San Pablo. Despite numerous warning signs, motel managers allegedly turned a blind eye to the trafficking, prioritizing profits over the victim's safety.

    The owners of most motels named in the lawsuit either declined to comment or claimed they were unaware of the allegations. However, G6 Hospitality, which owns Motel 6, released a statement condemning human trafficking and emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy towards such activities. The company emphasized its commitment to guest and employee safety.