Canton Landlord Asks Women For Sex Favors In Exchange For Lower Rent: Lawsuit

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI — A Canton landlord, who owned and rented out homes in Dearborn Heights was accused by federal officials of sexually harassing multiple current and prospective tenants, according to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Federal officials said Mohamad "Moe" Hussein, of Canton Township, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances toward women who either lived in his rental property or were seeking to live in since 2017.

Hussein routinely demanded the women engage in sex acts with him or send him sexual images in order to obtain the house, officials said.

Hussein also offered to lower rent, pay utility bills or decrease security deposit amounts in exchange for sex acts or images, as well as sending sexually explicit photos of himself to his tenants, officials said.

Hussein owned and managed 26 rental properties in Dearborn Heights, officials said.

An attorney of record for Hussein was not listed in federal court documents. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money from Hussein to compensate the victims of his alleged harassment.

Some of the harassment happened during the spring of 2020, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic when housing was difficult to find, officials said.

One of the women Hussein targeted was a 19-year-old who with her father reached out to Hussein about a single-family home in March 2020, officials said.

After touring the home, the woman asked Hussein about a security deposit through a text message and he replied, "You seem a really nice girl I like you. Maybe we can get together sometimes," officials said.

The woman told Hussein that she is 19 years old and Hussein, who was 48 years old at the time, responded with "does age matter lol," officials said.

The family stopped pursuing the home after Hussein's comments, officials said.

"No one should be denied the right to housing because they refuse to submit to a landlord’s sexual demands," the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said. "The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing the Fair Housing Act and seeking justice for those sexually harassed by landlords and other housing providers."

Those who believe they have been a victim of sexual harassment or any other housing discrimination on rentals owned or managed by Hussein were asked to contact the Housing Discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291.

Individuals may also get in touch with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan at 313-226-9151, or by email at usamie.civilrights@usdoj.gov.