Motel 6 Will Settle Human Trafficking Suit Involving Los Angeles Property

Motel 6 has agreed to pay $250,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging one of its properties in Los Angeles was a base for sex trafficking, drug dealers and gang members.

City Attorney Mike Feuer told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the money will be used to help deter human trafficking.

The city in November sued G6 Hospitality Property LLC, which operates the Motel 6 chain, seeking to quell “unrelenting crime and nuisance activity” at a motel in the Sylmar neighborhood.

Feuer said there had been 60 arrests at the hotel since 2013. He says in one case, motel staff members “didn’t hesitate” to rent a room to an undercover police officer posing as a pimp.

A spokeswoman for G6 Hospitality didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.