The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the former manger of a New Mexico apartment complex, alleging that for more than 10 years he engaged in a pattern of sexual intimidation and harassment that included exposing his genitals to female tenants, threatening to evict women who wouldn't have sex with him and offering to excuse late or unpaid rent in exchange for sexual acts.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, said the string of alleged sexual assaults occurred between 2010 and 2022 when Ariel Solis Veleta was the property manager of the St. Anthony Plaza Apartments in Albuquerque.
It alleges that Solis Veleta and the company that employed him, PacifiCap Property Group, the Oregon-based owners of the Section 8 apartment building, violated the federal Fair Housing Act.
During that time period, Solis Veleta was the property's leasing agent and manager whose duties included showing units to prospective tenants, executing leases, and collecting rent.
"Defendant Solis' conduct described in this complaint caused female tenants to suffer fear, anxiety, and emotional distress, and interfered with their ability to secure and maintain rental housing for themselves and their families," the lawsuit says.
The suit alleges that Solis Veleta "subjected female tenants at the subject property to discrimination because of sex, including unwelcome and severe or pervasive sexual harassment."
It claims he exposed his penis to female tenants, masturbated in front of them, make unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances to them, tried to coerce them into having sex with him, locked women in his office as he demanded sex and entered women's apartments under the guise of conducting maintenance work and then trying to have sex with them.
In one example cited in the lawsuit Solis Veleta called a female tenant to his office.
When she arrived, he closed and locked the door, and revealed what he said was a folder of complaints against her that could lead to her being evicted.
Solis Velta then pulled her on his lap and said he could "make it all go away."
In another encounter, he showed up at a woman's unit, saying he had paperwork for her to sign.
Once inside, he began touching her sexually. When she refused, he pulled her by the arm into the bathroom and locked the door.
"Defendant Solis then exposed his penis in a manner that indicated that he wanted her to touch his penis. Fearing that Defendant Solis might evict her if she refused, and feeling like she had no choice, she touched his penis," the lawsuit alleges.
PacificCap Property Group did not immediately return a request for comment from HNGN.
A phone number for Solis Veleta could not be found.
