A landlord accused of sexually harassing female tenants, including allegedly locking them in his office to sexually assault them, will pay $425,000 to victims after the U.S. Attorney’s Office reached a settlement.
Salazar Dos Santos, a Chicopee landlord, has been accused of violating the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants for at least 11 years.
The settlement announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Wednesday also resolves claims against the Trusts of Salazar Dos Santos and America Dos Santos, which held the properties where the harassment allegedly occurred.
Under the proposed consent decree, the defendants are required to pay a total of $425,000 to compensate individuals harmed by the harassment and a $25,000 civil penalty. The settlement is subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
“Sexual harassment and the conduct alleged here is repugnant and completely unacceptable,” U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement. “Stable and safe housing is fundamental for positive outcomes in life.
“Insidiously, sexual harassment and violations in the context of housing often target vulnerable tenants who fear eviction and homelessness,” she added. “Although not present in this case, there are also times that immigration status is the manipulation utilized to target and victimize vulnerable tenants.”
Dos Santos is accused of unwelcome sexual contact, which included coercing female tenants to engage in sex acts, physically sexually assaulting them, exposing himself, and locking them in his office to sexually assault them.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office accused Dos Santos of implicitly offering to provide relief from rental payments in exchange for engaging in sex acts with him, and he allegedly threatened tenants who refused his unwelcome sexual harassment.
Some of the victims were allegedly sexually harassed dozens of times for months — one tenant on more than 40 occasions — and Dos Santos allegedly evicted some tenants after they refused his advances.
The settlement bars future discrimination and retaliation, requires that property management responsibilities be turned over to an independent manager, mandates the implementation of a sexual harassment policy, complaint procedure and Fair Housing Act training, and requires detailed reporting regarding property management activities and compliance with the terms of the consent decree.
The settlement also permanently prohibits Dos Santos from participating in any property management responsibilities at any residential rental property.