ELIZABETH, NJ – An Elizabeth landlord who was taking sexual favors in lieu of rent from both male and female tenants in hundreds of apartments he owns has been indicted for multiple sex crimes this week.
The 75-year-old man who owned hundreds of rental apartments spread across 18 residential properties was indicted last Thursday for sexually committing sexual crimes against 30 tenants for a period of several years after being arrested in June of 2021.
A joint announcement was made today by Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca, Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves, and Elizabeth Police Director Daniel. He was charged with 23 counts of second-degree sexual assault and 19 counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact under the 42-count indictment. There were various times between 2013 and 2020 when the alleged crimes occurred, with male and female victims ranging in age between 22 and 61.
As a result of a long-term investigation initiated by the Elizabeth Police Department and conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit, he targeted tenants or prospective tenants who were homeless, about to be evicted, or otherwise struggling financially, according to Special Victims Unit Supervisor Caroline Lawlor, who is pursuing the case.
The defendant allegedly solicited the sex acts from his victims as a quid pro quo, offering them rent reductions, a delay in evictions, or other forms of financial assistance in return. Moreover, he purportedly threatened tenants with eviction or other retaliatory measures if they hesitated or refused his advances.
A Special Victims Unit detective has been leading the investigation into the man’s activities, assisted by Detective Louis Demondo of the Elizabeth Police Department, Special Agent Khela Vazquez of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Civil Rights Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. Anyone with information about this matter is still urged to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Joanne Son at (908) 477-1698.