1. Human Trafficking
Overview
Sex Trafficking in the U.S.
Fake Massage Businesses
Internet Based
Residential Brothels
Street Prostitution
Hostess & Strip Clubs
Escort Services
Truck Stops
Labor Trafficking in the U.S.
Recognizing the Signs
International Trafficking
Trafficking FAQs
State-by-State Resources
Calendar of Events
The NHTRC Human Trafficking Report a Tip Access Training Resources Map Get Involved Contact
Hostess Clubs – Also known as “room
salons,” these legitimate businesses are well-
connected with fake massage businesses.
Women from Eastern Europe and/or Russia
are frequently recruited to work in strip
clubs in the United States.
"According to court papers, Maksimenko and his business partners operated a
human trafficking ring which exploited Eastern European women and used the
guise of a legitimate business – Beauty Search, Inc. – to cover their criminal
conduct. Maksimenko and his partners smuggled women into the United States
and compelled them through threats and coercion to work as dancers in strip
clubs. To force the women to keep working, Maksimenko and his partners took
a number of steps, including confiscating the dancers’ passports; imposing large
debts; isolating the dancers; threatening physical violence; searching the
dancers’ apartments; and threatening to turn the dancers into authorities
because of their illegal immigrant status."
-2007 DOJ Press Release
Victims of bothsex andlabor traffickingmay be foundinhostess
clubs andstripclubs inthe UnitedStates. Insituations of sex
trafficking, avictimmay be forcedto provide commercial sex to the
club patrons by apimp, employer, or other controller, inadditionto
his or her work as adancer or hostess. Victims may be U.S. citizens,
undocumentedimmigrants, or foreignnationals withtourist, summer
work, or entertainment groupvisas. Thoughthe victims tendto be
adult women, some of these networks may also exploit minors.
Ayoungwomancame to the U.S. fromJapanshortly before her
eighteenth birthday. She hadbeenpromisedajob as alifeguardin
Vermont, andinsteadwas brought to New Mexico andforcedto
stripat anight club. One night, she met ayoungmanat the club, and
she pleadedforhelpinleaving. She felt as if she no longercouldtake
the sexual abuse inflicteduponherby hercontrollers. The
controllers confiscatedall of herwages that she earnedworking14 hours aday, andwouldnot let her
leave the premises. The youngmancalledthe National HumanTraffickingResource Center, andthe
informationwas reportedto alocal traffickingtaskforce who openedaninvestigation.
*Basedoncalls receivedby the National HumanTrafficking
Resource Center. Identifyingdetails have beenchangedto protect
confidentiality.
When does it become trafficking?
Stripping, nude dancing, andhostessingbecome sex traffickingwhen
the employer uses force, fraud, and/or coercionto compel anadult
worker to engage incommercial sex withclub patrons. If the escort
is under the age of 18, s/he is consideredavictimof sex trafficking
regardless of the presence of force, fraudor coercion. Situations of
individuals beingcompelledto hostess, serve drinks, or dance in
these types of clubs may also be atype of labor trafficking, if force, fraud, or coercionis usedto induce
the individuals into performingsome formof "labor or services." Commonmeans of control include:
Hostess/Strip Clubs - Sex
Trafficking
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2. Force–Physical or sexual abuse;restrictions onmovement andcommunicationwithfriends and
family;constant surveillance.
Fraud–False promises of adifferent job;misrepresentationof the workingconditions, wages, and
immigrationbenefits of the job;alteredor bogus contracts;non-payment, underpayment or
confiscationof wages;visafraud.
Coercion –Exploitationof aforeignnational’s unfamiliarity withthe language, laws andcustoms of
the US;verbal andpsychological abuse;threats of harmto the victimor the victim’s family or friends;
threats of deportation;lack of control over aschedule;isolation;confiscationof passports andvisas;
debt increasedthroughvarious fees to the club or drivingnetworks.
*The above list is not comprehensive orcumulative. One element of force, fraudorcoercionmay be
present, ormany.
Types of Hostess/Strip Club Networks
Stripping Networks–WomenfromEasternEurope and/or Russiaare frequently recruitedto work
instripclubs inthe UnitedStates. Once inthe UnitedStates, anetwork of drivers transports the
womento andfromthe clubs where they work. Club owners generally consider these women
independent contractors andemployees of the drivingnetwork, not the club. The womenmay be
requiredto pay certainfees to the club, DJ, bouncer, taxi drivers, stage manager, andother parties.
The womenoftenmust adhere to extensive, pre-determinedschedules andare frequently moved
betweenmultiple clubs. Commercial sex sometimes takes place inthe bathroom, VIP, or lapdance
rooms.
Hostess Clubs–Also knownas “roomsalons,” these legitimate businesses are well-connectedwith
fake massage businesses. Clubs may be locatedinstore-fronts, office spaces, andcommercial areas.
Clandestine advertisements inethnic local newspapers allowthese "closednetworks" clubs to cater to
Asianmale clientele. Foodanddrink are soldat inflatedprices, as womenaccompany andentertain
customers. Commercial sex may take place on-or off-site after hours.
"Cantinas"–Cantinas register andoperate as legitimate businesses that have food, drink, dancing
andmusic, largely cateringto amale customer base. Labor traffickingoccurs whenfemale hostesses
are forcedthroughthreats andviolence to meet certaindaily quotas of alcohol sales by encouraging
male customers to buy beer at inflatedprices. Insome situations, sex traffickingmay also occur onor
off-site. Unlike residential brothels, the hostesses involvedwithacantinado not always sleeponsite.
Vulnerabilities
Organized Crime–Hostess clubs andstripclubs withinspecific ethnic networks are oftentiedto
organizedcrime. Womenare frequently toldthey owe money to the network, andfailure to pay will
result inharmto themand/or their families.
Immigration Status–Traffickers oftenuse the threat of deportationas well as document
confiscationto maintaincontrol of foreignnational victims. Some victims enter the U.S. witha
fraudulent visaprocuredthroughorganizedcrime or arecruiter, leavingthemparticularly vulnerable
to threats of deportationandunlikely to seek helpfromthe police. Additionally, traffickers prey on
immigrant workers’ unfamiliarity withthe language, laws andcustoms of the U.S. to further manipulate
or exploit them.
Statistics Snapshot
Inthe 2008study “Deconstructingthe Demandfor Prostitution” conductedby the Chicago Alliance
Against Sexual Exploitation, 46% of the 113 interviewees hadbought sex at stripclubs. 49% of
interviewees believedthat there were girls under 18years of age workingat stripclubs.
For resources onsex traffickinginhostess/stripclubs, click here.
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3. Top Resources
HumanTrafficking
National HumanTraffickingResource
Center
Sex TraffickingintheU.S.
RecognizingtheSigns
TheVictims
Client Quotes
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