UNION COUNTY LANDLORD CHARGED WITH SEX CRIMES AGAINST 13 TENANTS Prosecutors say some of the victims felt they faced eviction and homelessness unless they agreed to the sexual acts.

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March 22, 2021
Caren Lissner
Patch

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The owner of 18 rental properties in Elizabeth has been charged with coercing 13 of his tenants into sexual acts to avoid eviction and homelessness, or in exchange for lower rents, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Monday.
"The victims reported feeling they had no choice but to concede to [his] demands, citing dire personal circumstances such as trying to maintain housing for their young children," said a press release from the office of Prosecutor Lindsay Ruotolo.
Joseph Centanni, 73, of Mountainside was charged with eight counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree attempted sexual assault, and 14 counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact in connection with incidents taking place at various times from 2016 into 2020.
The release said the landlord allegedly targeted "male and female tenants or prospective tenants who were homeless, about to be evicted, or otherwise struggling financially."
"Using a position of power and privilege to prey on the vulnerabilities and desperation of others is not just wrong – in this case it is also criminal," said Ruotolo.

The release said that Centanni "threatened tenants who hesitated or refused his advances with eviction or other retaliatory measures."
According to Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor, who is prosecuting the case, the victims would meet Centanni in his office on the 200 block of West Jersey Street in downtown Elizabeth, and the sex acts took place in laundry, storage, or boiler rooms, or in a sample apartment unit shown to prospective renters.

Centanni was taken into custody without incident at his office on Friday morning and brought to the Union County Jail pending a first appearance and detention hearing in Union County Superior Court.

The investigation into Centanni's activities was led by Special Victims Unit Detective Joanne Son, and assisted by Elizabeth Police Department Detective Louis DeMondo and Special Agent Khela Vazquez of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under the supervision of HUD Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi. Members of the Union County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit, under the leadership of Sheriff Peter Corvelli, assisted with the execution of a search warrant at Centanni's office.

There is a separate, ongoing Fair Housing Act lawsuit against Centanni brought by the United States Department of Justice, the Prosecutor's Office said.
The Prosecutor's Office said that they believe there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward.

Convictions on second-degree crimes are commonly punishable by terms of 5 to 10 years in state prison.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/westfield/union-county-landlord-charged-sex-crimes-against-13-tenants

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