The Justice Department has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the property manager and owner of a Koreatown apartment building.
Property manager Abraham Kesary has been charged with sexually harassing a female resident at a rental property at 445 South Western Avenue, according to a Justice Department news release. Known as West Tower, the property is a 103-unit apartment complex on the corner of Fifth Street and Western Avenue.
Kesari, who lived in the building with female tenants, allegedly offered housing benefits in exchange for sex. He was also accused of entering the tenant’s home without permission and making an unwelcome sexual advance. The complaint states that the alleged criminal conduct occurred between 2012 and 2020.
The property’s owner, M&F Development, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Property records show M&F has owned the property since 2005.
“Mr. Cesari allegedly abused his power as a property manager for years to sexually harass and harm vulnerable tenants,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “Sexual harassment is a violation of the Fair Housing Act, and the Department of Justice will do everything in its power to achieve justice for victims of discrimination and harassment.”
The Justice Department has been aggressively pursuing sexual harassment cases against landlords. In March, the agency filed a lawsuit against Joel Noel, a rental property owner in Lassen County in northeastern California.Last week, the agency also agreed $450,000 Settlement Along with a Massachusetts landlord accused of molesting and assaulting a female tenant.
