A grand jury indicted a former New Jersey landlord last week on more than three dozen sex charges accusing him of soliciting sex from tenants who were facing eviction or struggling financially, authorities announced Wednesday.
Centanni, the former owner of hundreds of rental units across 18 residential properties, “targeted tenants or prospective tenants who were homeless, about to be evicted, or otherwise struggling financially,” authorities said.
The lawsuit alleged Centanni had sexually harassed susceptible tenants for more than 15 years.
Centanni sold all of his properties as part of the settlement, the statement said.
Under the terms of the proposed consent decree, Centanni would pay $4,392,950 in damages to tenants and prospective tenants “harmed by his harassment,” authorities said.