NJ Landlord Accused Of Sex Crimes Must Pay $4.5M To Tenants: Settlement

ELIZABETH, NJ — The Department of Justice announced the largest monetary settlement in a case alleging sexual harassment in housing after a Union County landlord agreed to pay $4.5 million in monetary damages and a civil penalty to resolve a Fair Housing Act (FHA) lawsuit.

Joseph Centanni, a landlord who has owned hundreds of rental units in and around Elizabeth, agreed to pay the settlement concerning his sexual harassment of tenants and housing applicants for more than 15 years.

According to the settlement, Centanni focused his harassment on women and gay or bisexual men. The FHA prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The money from the settlement will compensate the many women and men who were sexually harassed by Joseph Centanni, according to the DOJ.

“The need for housing is a basic human need,” Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig of the District of New Jersey said. “Joseph Centanni exploited that need, and the important federal programs that attempt to meet it, by threatening to deny his victims a roof over their heads if they did not submit to his demands for sexual acts. This landmark settlement demonstrates our unyielding commitment to combat sexual harassment in housing and to ensure that no one is subject to discrimination because of their sex, including based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

According to the complaint, Centanni demanded sexual favors like oral sex, to get or keep housing; offered housing benefits, such as reduced rent in exchange for sexual favors; touched tenants and applicants in a way that was sexual and unwelcome; and made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to tenants and applicants. The complaint also claimed that Centanni initiated or threatened to initiate eviction actions against tenants who objected to or refused his sexual advances.

Centanni participates in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, and receives about $102,000 each month in Housing Choice Voucher payments, according to the complaint.

Under the consent decree, Centanni will pay $4.39 million to those harmed by his harassment and he sold all of his residential rental properties. Centanni is permanently enjoined from owning and managing residential rental properties and will be required to dismiss housing court judgments obtained in proceedings deemed to be retaliatory and take steps to repair the credit of any affected tenants. He must also pay a $107,050 civil penalty to the United States, the maximum civil penalty allowed under the FHA.

The settlement isn't the only legal action Centanni is facing. There are separate, ongoing, criminal prosecutions against Centanni brought by the Office of the Union County Prosecutor. To date, that office has charged Centanni with coercing 20 tenants into sexual acts in exchange for financial relief. Centanni is charged with 13 counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree attempted sexual assault, and 21 counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

Anyone with information about Centanni may reach the Union County Prosecutor’s Office by contacting Detective Joanne Son at (908) 477-1698. Anyone who believe that they were subjected to sexual harassment by Centanni should contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line toll free, at 1-833-591-0291, and select option number one to leave a message. You can also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339. You may also e-mail the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or submit a report online.

Read More:

• Union County Landlord Demanded Sexual Favors From Tenants: Feds
• 7 More Tenants Accuse Union Co. Landlord Of Sex Crimes: Officials