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.