Denver, CO – In a disturbing trend, unscrupulous landlords in Colorado are exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to engage in predatory practices, including sexual harassment of tenants.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, has announced that it will take aggressive action against anyone attempting to capitalize on the pandemic by targeting vulnerable individuals in need of housing or struggling financially to stay in rental housing.
According to U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn, "Those who target tenants, especially during this national crisis, will not be tolerated and violators are prosecuted."
"The pandemic is dangerous enough without wrongdoers seeking to profit from public panic and this sort of conduct cannot be tolerated," added Attorney General Barr. "To address predatory practices by unscrupulous landlords, I have directed the Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s to coordinate efforts to devote all necessary resources to investigate reports of housing-related sexual harassment resulting from the current crisis."
As the country grapples with the economic fallout of the pandemic, many landlords have taken advantage of desperate tenants, demanding sexual favors in exchange for deferral of rent payments. This behavior is not only horrific but also illegal.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual harassment by a property owner or someone with control over housing resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, please contact the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative at 1-844-380-6178 or email fairhousing@usdoj.gov.
For more information, visit www.justice.gov/crt/sexual-harassment-housing-initiative.
Related Federal Cases
- John Doe, Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Colorado 2024 · Washington
- Brian Franklin Howard, Aggravated Sexual Abuse with Children, Colorado 2015 · Pennsylvania
- Eric David Marrufo, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, Tucson AZ, … · Arizona
- Damian Andrew Wathogoma, Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor, Clark… · Arkansas
- Phillip Harris Convicted of Sexual Assault, Glen Cove NY, 2023 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Colorado
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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