NJ landlord accused of demanding sexual favors from tenants will pay $4.5M settlement

A landlord who owns hundreds of properties allegedly demanded sexual favors from tenants and potential tenants.

News 12 Staff

Dec 14, 2021, 5:48 PM

Updated 1,028 days ago

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The Department of Justice says a landlord who demanded sexual favors from tenants and potential tenants will pay a massive settlement for sexual harassment.
Joseph Centanni will pay $4.5 million in damages to dozens of victims. He faces separate criminal charges from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division says the case was referred to them in 2019, but that they believe Centanni had been sexually harassing tenants, both male and female, for 15 years.
Some of the victims were homeless people seeking housing. Authorities say Centanni would threaten to evict tenants who objected or refused his sexual advances. Centanni would also take his victims to secluded areas, like storage rooms or vacant apartments, and then expose himself or demand sexual favors, the authorities said.
Under the settlement, which still needs to be approved by a federal judge, Centanni would never be allowed to own rental property again.