A woman is claiming that employees at a Red Roof Inn and a Motel 6 in New Jersey turned a blind eye to men who allegedly paid for sex with her. She has filed lawsuits in two federal court cases against the hotel company, stating she was trafficked from May to August 2014 by Stanton Krogulski, a man who was fatally shot in Philadelphia in August 2023.
Krogulski, 36, had a troubled past, including an arrest in 2007 for attempting to shoot a police officer in Lumberton, as reported.
The complaints allege that Krogulski operated his trafficking business from a Red Roof Inn and Motel 6 in Mount Laurel and Maple Shade. The woman, referred to in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, describes how Krogulski manipulated her—offering her drugs and eventually taking control of her life at the Motel 6 when she was just 17 and homeless.
In her testimony, Jane Doe indicated that she felt trapped by Krogulski’s threats and manipulation, stating she was frequently exploited for sex. Details about the men who paid for her services were notably absent from the lawsuit.
Jane Doe claims she was advertised on a well-known human trafficking website, and underwent physical and sexual abuse in the hotels, with Krogulski often present during these exploitative situations.
The lawsuit accuses Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn of ignoring the visible signs of trafficking happening at their locations rather than taking action to combat it. “Instead of taking timely and effective steps to stop this epidemic,” Doe said, “they chose to ignore the open and obvious presence of sex trafficking on their property.”
Her experiences with Krogulski involved severe psychological and physical abuse, including allegations of rape and torment, until she managed to escape in 2015.
Despite multiple requests for comment, Red Roof Inn has not responded, while a statement from Motel 6 acknowledged that the Maple Shade site operates independently. They expressed sorrow over the alleged incidents, emphasizing the importance of safety for guests and staff.
Motel 6 condemned human trafficking and stated that franchisees are required to follow protocols designed to ensure a safe environment.
The lawsuit asserts that a company-wide policy against trafficking was in place, including staff training to detect and respond to such situations, as mentioned by Jane Doe.
The traumatic events have led Jane Doe to seek unspecified damages, as she copes with what she describes as post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. She expressed that these experiences have deeply affected her ability to trust others and form intimate relationships.
