A landlord in New Jersey faces a raft of charges, accused of drugging and sexually assaulting two tenants over a span of several months, a case that has shocked the local community.
The allegations against 60-year-old Craig Cardella are serious. Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw announced that Cardella has been indicted on numerous charges, including 17 counts of kidnapping, 18 counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, 18 counts of invasion of privacy, 18 counts of endangering another person, and a single count of stalking.
These charges stem from accusations made by two men who were renting rooms in Cardella’s home. Their accounts have prompted a criminal investigation that began late last year.
The investigation was initiated by Mansfield Township Police in December 2024 after one of the tenants reported a disturbing incident. According to his statement, he awoke during the night to find Cardella in bed beside him, holding a mask over his face and engaging in unwanted sexual contact.
Following this report, a search warrant was executed at Cardella’s residence, uncovering a safe in his closet. Inside, police discovered items that raise significant concerns: two bottles of chloroform, prescription sleep medication, medical masks, a camcorder, and digital storage devices.
The indictments were formally issued in December, and Cardella recently entered a plea of not guilty during his arraignment. The case continues to unfold as the legal process advances, with both the community and authorities closely watching for further developments.
Police are now investigating to determine if there were other victims. They asked anyone who thinks they may have been assaulted by Cardella to contact Detective Ken Allen at allen@mansfieldpd.org.
