DAVIDSON, N.C. — Court documents have revealed new evidence against a former Davidson nail salon owner who is facing federal charges after being accused of holding a woman against her will, forcing her to work and even stabbing her with nail tools.
Channel 9 first started investigating the human trafficking case in 2018. In March, Tien Luong was indicted by a federal grand jury. She was first arrested after an investigation by Davidson police and Homeland Security.
Investigators said Luong used a 49-year-old victim as a slave to repay a debt of $180,000.
They said she would give the victim a paycheck, but then drive her to the bank, have her cash it, and then take the money back. Officials said the servitude was abusive.
Investigators said Luong used a metal cuticle pusher and stabbed the victim in the chest and back, leaving scars.
Authorities said Luong and her boyfriend, Nip Mihn Tsi, were both arrested on human trafficking charges in 2018, which their attorney denies. The couple was then accused of assaulting another victim just a few months later.
Luong’s attorney said she sold the salon after “false accusations ruined the business."
The original court documents said Luong made the victim feel like she was not able to leave or resign.
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Court documents filed in October show the victim’s attorneys plan to present evidence at Luong’s trial that she used “violence, threats of violence, degradation and an exorbitant debt scheme involving threats of reputation harm and arrest” in order to keep the victim around.
In the documents, the victim alleges Luong assaulted her with a metal emery board, ripped out her hair, poured acetone on her head as punishment for poor work performance, and pinched, bit and kicked her.
Officials said the victim owned her own salon, but after experiencing some financial troubles, she closed it down and came to work for Luong.
During this time, the victim considered Luong her friend and Luong loaned her $10,000 to help her out of her financial problems. The victim reportedly paid off the loan while working at the salon.
According to court documents, the victim’s friendship with Luong started to degrade in late 2017 when she started to speak with another man online. The victim reported Luong belittling her for her last relationship and saying if she was going to “give her money away to a new boyfriend, she might as well give the money to Luong.”
Following this incident, court documents stated Luong made the victim write and sign a document saying she was personally responsible for lost profits at the salon and that she owed Luong $180,000.
The victim said she and her family went to the police after Luong and her boyfriend came to her home, ordered her into the car and assaulted her.
If you or someone you know is at risk of human trafficking, you can contact the human trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888.