A NJ Landlord Accused of Demanding Sex From Tenants Will Pay $4.5 Million
A landlord accused of demanding sex from his low-income tenants under threat of eviction or in exchange for helping them receive rent assistance will pay more than $4 million to settle a federal lawsuit, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
The action against Joseph Centanni resolves a lawsuit filed in August 2020 that accused Centanni of engaging in “severe or pervasive sexual harassment” over a period of approximately 15 years. The settlement still must be approved by a federal judge.
According to the lawsuit, Centanni has owned numerous properties in and around the city of Elizabeth that accept federal Section 8 housing vouchers. He allegedly demanded oral sex in exchange for helping residents stay in their housing or receive rent assistance, and threatened to evict tenants who rejected his advances.
