The lawsuit was filed through attorneys Russell Watters and John Cunningham of Brown & James PC in Belleville. The company posted to its Facebook page Tuesday about the allegations. Follow us on social media to stay up to date on our exclusive and limited membership deals. The raids took place after an 18-month investigation, Operation Rehoboam, and were supported by the National Crime Agency, the Metropolitan police and North Yorkshire police, who provided tactical advice and personnel. Looking suspicious., Anderson is accused of publishing a statement on the plaintiffs Facebook page stating, Everyone on here needs to know the issue they had yesterday was getting raided for sex trafficking!!!! A seductive and luxurious escape built for the senses. EXO alleges Helms made a Facebook post stating, I mean a lot of people did see the fbi there and said money laundering was going on which was true but the dude has a lot of money and owns 2 other salons that ik of in Edwardsville., Wasser allegedly made a post stating, As a former employee, I can confirm that on numerous occasions multiple other employees (including an owner) told us that there was money laundering going on. The bust happened Wednesday inside a business claiming to be massage parlors in the 11300 block of Emerald Street in northwest Dallas, according to the Dallas Police Department. Since 2017, more than 550 Vietnamese nationals have been identified as potential victims of human trafficking in the UK, with a high proportion of these being forced to work long hours in nail salons for little or no money. She demands strict proof that the statements were defamatory. Ryann Watkins-Saul replied to Bakers post stating he is an event manager at EXO Lounge and that the claims are false. Very often they dont speak English, so even if they are experiencing some exploitation theyre not able to talk about it. I want the people of Edwardsville to enjoy the experience of being treated as if they are royalty, said Gamblin, as she continues to explain that some things need to be experienced before they can be appreciated. As stylists we are often skilled at reading body language and social situations from working with so many people daily. The suit states that the defendants' false, unprivileged, and defamatory statements were made with actual malice, or were made with such reckless disregard for the falsity of the statements, such that plaintiffs are entitled to punitive damage to deter others from similar conduct.". Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? The tragedy has led to calls for a crackdown on trafficking of Vietnamese into the so-called nail bar business. Does someone else accompany them, make decisions for them about the services they are receiving, and pay cash? exo nail bar human traffickingmarketing local e individual. The nail bar will offer manicures, pedicures, eyelash extensions and waxing and an atmosphere built around service and fun. "You can get treatments that are price-competitive in legitimate salons," says Jean-Michel Chalayer, the founder of beauty treatment company LeSalon. These malicious rumors are incredibly detrimental to our business and community. Keeping both of you safe is a priority. Does the client avoid eye contact or stay unusually reserved? We plead that you refrain from resharing or posting these rumors. Exo Nail Bar and Exo Lounge filed a motion to compel discovery responses as to defendants Amya Helms and Cathey on Sept. 24 through attorney Russell Watters of Brown & James PC in St. Louis. All bar one have been released on police bail until 23 June. Yep - The FBI has been tracking this for a while. Mike Shannon, legendary Cardinals broadcaster, dead at 83, Pedestrian dies after running into path of Edwardsville man's car, New drive-in coming to Edwardsville, slated to open this summer. !, Exo claims in its lawsuit that the statements published by the defendants were unequivocally false, unprivileged, and were defamatory . However, Keevan denied making the statement Exo claims he made. A display of EXO Nail Bar's extensive selection of polishes. Garber has partnered with Wella Education and Hairdressers at Heart for an extra push in these efforts; with January being Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Wella is organizingleaders in the salon professional space like Haley to help raise awareness of this crisis and share critical information with people across the country. Is their appearance unkempt and neglected? If more of us are using nail bars, we need to understand the implications of what we are potentially participating in. The current estimate is that there are 40 million slaves worldwide and it is often unclear what practical steps an individual can take to avoid using slave labour in pursuing our beauty regimes. Officers from Thames Valley and North Yorkshire . "[Illegal salons] are often not much cheaper than their legitimate counterparts," says Lesley Blair, chair of the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology. EXO is love, ambiance, elegance, comfort, social, sexy, peaceful, unique, a destination. Three sentenced after police find human trafficking operation in UK nail bars. EXO alleges Helms made a Facebook post stating, I mean a lot of people did see the fbi there and said money laundering was going on which was true but the dude has a lot of money and owns 2 other salons that ik of in Edwardsville., Wasser allegedly made a post stating, As a former employee, I can confirm that on numerous occasions multiple other employees (including an owner) told us that there was money laundering going on. The Newsletter Bringing the Legal System to Light. In a lawsuit filed by the city of Dallas against the property owner, city officials are seeking to label the property as a nuisance. Statements of opinions are not actionable and therefore, plaintiffs complaint should be dismissed with prejudice.. Despite its success, the plaintiff claims it has suffered damages after several individuals spread rumors that it was being investigated by the FBI for sex trafficking, money laundering and drugs. Went in today to get a powder manicure. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Rachel Harper, from the modern slavery charity Unseen, says they "see a lot of cases" in the. Eix was arrested in Lewisville, Texas, whileMaric and Anuson were both arrested in Commerce, Texas by Texas A&M Commerce police and other agencies. If you think you have seen nail bars which may be exploiting victims of modern slavery, call the police. EDWARDSVILLE Unfounded rumors and disinformation fueled by social media began to swirl around the EXO Lounge on Route 157, just south of Center Grove Road, last week, according to law enforcement officials. 2 Illinois Route 157 Center Street in Edwardsville Thursday. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Looking suspicious., Anderson is accused of publishing a statement on the plaintiffs Facebook page stating, Everyone on here needs to know the issue they had yesterday was getting raided for sex trafficking!!!! In her affirmative defenses, Anderson argues that she stated an opinion and is protected from liability under the opinion and fair comment privilege.. Thames Valley police executed the warrants at 17 premises in Berkshire, Yorkshire and London at about 10am on Tuesday. Nail Salons. More than 150 police officers have carried out a number of raids across the country, including at six nail bars, as part of an operation to tackle human trafficking. People who continue to make these posts are the reason that these rumors spread like wild fire (sic). Is there a lack of conversation between staff? It is not known which nail bars were involved in the operation. These included three nail bars and three addresses in Reading, two nail bars and two addresses in Wokingham, one address in West Berkshire, five addresses in London and one nail bar in York. Truth is coming out!! A stunning and beautiful design, befitting for the unique and enchanting experience we offer. As a business, we have supported and donated more than $20,000 to the local community of Edwardsville. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, EDWARDSVILLE I want to create an escape, somewhere people can go and be pampered in an environment built around the senses. Obermark filed her motion to dismiss the complaint through attorney John Chassaing of Greensfelder Hemker & Gale PC in Belleville. Do they always wear the same clothes or have personal hygiene issues? The salon is home to a team of highly trained and skilled nail technicians who are dedicated to delivering superior finishes and top-notch customer service during every visit. Chassaing also wrote that Exo Lounge LLC and Exo Nail Bar LLC are two different and distinct entities, but the complaint improperly combines and conflates the plaintiffs to assert claims against both defendants. For example, the suit alleges Obermark made statements regarding Exo Lounge, but both plaintiffs claim they were injured. Edwardsville Police Chief Jay Keeven maintained this week what he told an Intelligencer reporter last week when asked about these charges. I ask you to please stop. Boys are usually sent to work in cannabis farms, locked inside converted houses and forced to tend the plants day and night, while the girls and young women are dispatched to work in nail bars.. You might also consider the other side of the coin - a social forum was used to bully our staff and our brand based on false and unfounded allegations. Despite being new companies dealing with the wrath of a global COVID-19 pandemic, plaintiffs prospered into two of the most successful businesses of their kind in not only Edwardsville, Illinois, but the entire Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri region and beyond, the suit states. Exo alleges the defendants knew or should have known that their statements were false. Initially, trafficking of women and girls for forced sex work and, to a lesser extent, domestic servitude, were the sole focus of advocacy and assistance. There's a warning that workers in your local nail bar could be victims of human trafficking. Exo also claims that in addition to several now deleted statements on its Facebook page, Garrison wrote, Wonder why my comment about the drug smuggling, prostitution, and human trafficking was deleted?!?!?! The nail bar was closed for 1.5 days because the POS system crashed and the staff was unable to process transactions Sauls post continued. Today, there is recognition that women, children and men are trafficked into many different . Ideal situations for traffickers would be larger and busier salons and beauty schools which are easy to get in and out of without drawing too much attention to them. It alleges that some of these illegal migrants are victims of "what appears to be a human-trafficking network" and that they are sometimes forced to work as prostitutes as well as manicurists.. 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In addition, EXO Lounge has enhanced the local economy by being a destination attraction for many visitors., Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735. If you feel that you have someone in your chair that may be a victim, the next steps are crucial. Whats that going to be at West End Service Station? Bookmarked content can then be accessed anytime on all of your logged in devices! Firefighters got the call at about 10 p.m. (WDBJ) - News that singer R. Kelly was convicted on nine counts in a sex trafficking trial is shining a light once again on the problem. We dont think that these people could be victims of trafficking when we go these nails bars. All Rights Reserved. There's a warning that workers in your local nail bar could be victims of human trafficking. The severe and adverse financial and reputational impact upon plaintiffs as a result of the statements published by the defendants will be long-lasting or permanent. As far as sex trafficking is concerned, I dont know about that, but there is shady business going on there without a doubt., Further, EXO claims Weinreich made a Facebook post stating, Hey guys, they closed due to being investigated by the FBI regarding money laundering, trafficking of some sort, and uses truckers to do their dirty work. We empathize with those hurt, upset, and disturbed by the allegations. More than 150 police officers have carried out a number of raids across the country, including at six nail bars, as part of an operation to tackle human trafficking. Does the client have any branding that visible? The 2023 NFL Draft runs April 2729 live from Kansas City, Missouri. 3m. Their international criminal operation used Vietnamese students. In 2016, more beauty and grooming salons opened in the UK than any other independent business. We want to assure you, none of these allegations are true and EXO Lounge is not under investigation for any type of criminal or unscrupulous activity. It is an offence to make people carry out acts against their will. This is extremely distasteful and if you look on their other page, they make a joke out of it. EXO Industries has been a project in the works for the past 24 months. In the past several days, we have taken steps to understand what happened and how these allegations unfolded. In its May 25 post, Exo responded to comments calling its unicorn statement distasteful. We dont ask ourselves whether these people are working voluntarily, and if theyre getting any salary. He has reported that the rumors have no basis and that they were the product of an active cyber smear campaign. 9 of 17 10 of 17. And we want all of this without interacting with the person behind the mask providing our treatment. Despite being new companies dealing with the wrath of a global COVID-19 pandemic, plaintiffs prospered into two of the most successful businesses of their kind in not only Edwardsville, Illinois, but the entire Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri region and beyond, the suit states. Once we raise awareness of the trend, there will be more proactive action. Pornthipa Khan, 54; Steven Eix, 53; Josip Maric, 42; and Yenrudee Anuson, 44, were all charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution. On its website, the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology says: Human trafficking is a problem in the beauty industry, especially in seemingly legitimate nail bars and other businesses that are in reality being used as fronts for brothels., It urges the industry to take action against the crime, not only for the poor women who are already suffering under the hands of traffickers, but also the up-and-coming trained therapists who could find themselves falling victim to this situation., More than 150 officers executed the warrants at 3 nail bars and 3 addresses in Reading #Op_rehoboam pic.twitter.com/7APObyc49P. The severe and adverse financial and reputational impact upon plaintiffs as a result of the statements published by the defendants will be long-lasting or permanent. The plaintiffs also filed a motion for default judgment on Sept. 14. 2023 Modern Salon. Not only have these accusations severely impacted our business, but it has impacted our staff on both a personal and professional basis. Rot in hell to all involved. The inside of an alleged brothel in Dallas shows cramped living spaces for victims of human trafficking forced into prostitution. Generator vs power station: Which one is right for you? About the STOP APP. (modern). Human trafficking Human trafficking has received increasing global attention over the past decade. National Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888, https://www.facebook.com/HairdressersAtHeart/. The suit states that Cathey published statements on Exos Facebook page accusing the plaintiff of being raided by the FBI and engaging in human sex trafficking. In the past several days, we have taken steps to understand what happened and how these allegations unfolded. I am not one of those women, but my terrible nails are a good talking point when I go into nail bars to spot signs of slavery and exploitation. A lot of trafficking is about opportunity, and nail bars present one of the opportunities to bring people to the UK under the pretext of working, but at the end of the day exploiting them, Jardan said. You can also text 233733 to get additional information to learn more about human trafficking. At least one of the 39 smuggled migrants who suffocated or froze in a lorry in the UK last week is believed to have been a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman whose dream was to work in a nail salon. She wants us to ask ourselves: "Is my discount worth the fact that someone might have lost all of their choice?". Edwardsville, EXO Nail Bar is a highly respected and well-known nail salon that has built a reputation for providing exceptional nail care services in a friendly and relaxing environment.. It is a truly special feeling to share this vision with friends, family and colleagues from a community that means so much to me., Local business owner to open EXO Lounge, Nail Bar. !, Exo claims in its lawsuit that the statements published by the defendants were unequivocally false, unprivileged, and were defamatory . (modern), Our purchasing decisions hold power. Other stories about the lounge closing last Friday claim the FBI and local police stormed the club when it was really closed due to an unexpected technical issue. It said that some were victims of what appears to be a human-trafficking network. As four accused Dallas-area pimps are behind bars, a lawsuit filed by the city of Dallas shows what life is like for some victims of human sex trafficking. A public health lens informs how we intervene. Trump has issued two executive orders targeting human trafficking. EXO Lounge and Nail Bar is distinguished by its philosophy that fun, efficient, convenient service coupled with a focus on overall health and well-being will generate buzz in the community. We have included a statement provided by Chief of Police, Jay Keevan. A report by the Sunday Times in 2013 revealed that many nail salons across the country were staffed by victims of trafficking, particularly from Vietnam. 80 $ Inexpensive Nail Salons. For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.
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