Union County Landlord Demanded Sexual Favors From Tenants: Feds

ELIZABETH, NJ — The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the owner of rental properties in Elizabeth claiming he violated the Fair Housing Act by demanded sexual favors from tenants and applicants, according to U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito.

Joseph Centanni, who owns hundreds of rental units in and around Elizabeth, is accused of subjecting tenants and applicants to sexual harassment on multiple occasions since at least 2005.

The lawsuit claims Centanni demanded sexual favors to get or keep housing, offered housing benefits like 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.

Centanni also started to evict or threatened to evict tenants who objected to or refused his sexual advances, the suit claims.

Properties Centanni owns in Elizabeth include:

• 707 North Broad Street,
• 1263 Clinton Place, 249 West Jersey Street,
• 147 West Jersey Street,
• 132 Orchard Street,
• and 516 Cherry Street.

"No one should ever be forced to provide sexual favors, or otherwise endure sexual harassment, as a condition to keep or obtain housing," U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. "Sexual harassment in housing is illegal under the Fair Housing Act, and we will vigorously enforce this federal law to end this depraved type of behavior."

The lawsuit seeks money to compensate the victims, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination.

The lawsuit is the result of a joint investigative effort with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office and Office of Inspector General.

"The Fair Housing Act protects the right of all persons in our nation to rent a home without suffering sexual exploitation at the hands of abusive landlords. Demanding sexual favors from tenants, especially those who are financially vulnerable, is illegal," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. "The Fair Housing Act protects tenants from sexual harassment and retaliation by their landlords, and the Justice Department will hold accountable those who engage in such cruel, depraved, and illegal conduct and will work tirelessly to obtain relief for their victims."

Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Centanni, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, can contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line, at 1-800-896-7743, and select option number one to leave a message.

Individuals can also report sexual harassment and other forms of housing discrimination by contacting the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at 855-281-3339 or e-mailing the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov.

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