Landlord Drugged, Molested Sleeping Tenants In His Burlington Co. Home: Officials

MANSFIELD, NJ — A Burlington County landlord has been indicted after authorities say he drugged multiple tenants unconscious and sexually assaulted them.

Craig Cardella, 60, victimized two men who rented rooms from his home in Mansfield, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office. The assaults happened during separate time periods that spanned several months, authorities said.

The investigation began in December 2024, when a tenant contacted Mansfield police. The victim said he woke up one night and discovered Cardella in bed with him, holding a mask over his mouth and nose, and touching him sexually, according to prosecutors.

Authorities discovered a safe in Cardella's closet while executing a search warrant at his home. The safe contained two bottles of chloroform, prescription sleep medication, medical masks, a camcorder and digital-storage devices, prosecutors said.

Investigators believe Cardella used the chloroform to prevent his victims from waking up during the assaults.

A grand jury charged Cardella by indictment in December with:

• 17 counts of first-degree kidnapping
• 18 counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact
• 18 counts of third-degree invasion of privacy
• 18 counts of third-degree endangering another person
• one count of fourth-degree stalking

Cardella was first charged by complaint in December 2024.

The defendant pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Tuesday, setting up the case to go to trial.

Cardella will return Feb. 17 to Burlington County Superior Court for an initial case disposition conference, according to online court records.

Cardella's defense attorney, Robert M. Perry, declined comment to Patch.