Davidson Nail Salon Owner Sentenced In Human Trafficking Case

DAVIDSON, NC — A former Davidson nail salon owner faces up to 20 years in prison after a federal jury found her guilty of forced labor, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of North Carolina announced.

Thuy Tien Luong, 37, of Charlotte was found guilty by the jury Jan. 8 following a five-day trial where prosecutors presented evidence of how she compelled the victim with violence to work for her at Luxury Nail Salon in Davidson from Oct. 2016 through June 2018.

According to a police account at the time of her arrest, the 57-year-old victim is related to Luong.

"Luong physically assaulted the victim on several occasions, including pulling her hair out, stabbing her with nail salon tools, and pouring acetone on her head," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. "Luong also threatened to ruin the victim’s reputation with her family by threatening to tell them information about the victim which would negatively impact the victim’s relationship with her family. Luong falsely claimed that the victim owed her a debt of $180,000, and falsely alleged that the victim’s poor work performance caused Luong to lose this amount of money. Luong even executed a debt contract with the victim in the amount of $180,000, and threatened to send the victim to jail if she did not repay all of it. In reality, the victim was a good employee. Luong often treated the victim in a humiliating and demeaning fashion, all while having her work 10 hours a day for 6 to 7 days a week."

In June 2018, the victim reported Luong to Davidson Police Department following a "particularly violent assault," DOJ said.

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“Davidson police officers and investigators took immediate action when this horrific crime was reported by the brave victim,” DPD Chief Penny Dunn said in a statement. “We are extremely grateful for the quick response of Special Agents of Homeland Security and for the pursuit of justice for victims by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case is an example of how domestic trafficking can and does happen anywhere in our nation.”

“Human trafficking is one of the most abhorrent crimes that can be inflicted upon another human being," U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray said in a statement. "Whether forced into unpaid labor or coerced into commercial sex acts, trafficking victims are reduced to commodities, their worth determined by how much a trafficker profits from them. In most cases, victims also endure great physical violence and mental abuse in the hands of the perpetrators."

Following the guilty verdict, Luong was remanded into federal custody. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and must pay mandatory restitution to the victim, DOJ said.