Benjamin Steiner sued for "financial fraud, money laundering... wire fraud... sexual harassment... sexual battery... sexual assault... [and] unlawful imprisonment."
The lawsuit was filed by Netaly Elmalem, who is also charging Steiner with "sexual harassment," "sexual battery," "sexual assault" and "unlawful imprisonment." Ms. Elmalem claims that she is a former employee of Steiner.
In addition, a "cross-complaint' filed by Steiner appears to document that he has done extensive work at 1211 Guerrero Street without a permit.
All of the legal filings regarding the Elmalem lawsuit can be found at Alameda County's eCourt Public Portal. The case number is 26CV164679.
Below are some details of the charges:
"Financial fraud, money laundering, and wire fraud." Elmalem asserts the following:
- The defendants are charged with "forging Elmalem's signature on real estate loan documents and deeds," including signing "Elmalem's name on a [2024] mortgage loan document without her knowledge or consent."
- Elmalem asserts that Steiner gave his mother $300,000, who then "wired the money back to Steiner" claiming that the $300,000 was a gift "in an attempt to obtain a more favorable [bank] loan."
- Elmalem asserts that Steiner "falsely stated to a bank that one of the properties he owns in West Palm Beach, Florida was being rented when in reality it was vacant."
- Elmalem asserts that Steiner "promised to give Elmalem an ownership in a property" in West Palm Beach "in exchange for $160,000." Elmalem asserts that she gave the money to Steiner, but that he then "caused title to that property to be vested in other people and/or entities."
- Elmalem "began working for defendants Steiner and Citadel as their Director of Finance" in September 2020.
- Steiner "began sexually harassing Elmalem... pressuring Elmalem for sexual favors under the threat of adverse employment actions."
- Elmalem "discovered that she was pregnant with Steiner's child (their second child together) in December 2022."
- "One day later" the "defendants terminated Elmalem's employment effective immediately."
- "Steiner told Elmalem that he would force her into a pregnancy camp where he can 'monitor' her and 'lock her up' because he did not want to deal with her hormones."
- "Steiner told Elmalem that since she was pregnant, she did not offer enough monetary value to him anymore."
- Subsequently, "Steiner forced, suffered or permitted Elmalem to work for defendants without being paid in violation of numerous laws and regulations."
- "Steiner intentionally and without consent choked Elmalem at times for his own sexual gratification..."
- "Steiner physically abused Elmalem, including shoving her, choking her, starving her and her children, and causing Elmalem to fear that Steiner would hurt their children."
- "Steiner intentionally restrained, confined, and detained Elmalem by preventing her from leaving the home, where he had established Citadel's headquarters and where Steiner forced Elmalem to live and perform work under threats of violence."
- "Steiner told Elmalem that he 'owned' her and that she was his 'property.'"
- "Steiner... continued to force Elmalem to work without pay through the end of 2023."
- Elmalem was "granted a restraining order against Steiner on December 15, 2023."
- Despite the restraining order, which "prohibited... [Steiner] from communicating with Elmalem directly or indirectly... Steiner tried to communicate with Elmalem through her friends, calling her in the middle of the night... through their kids' nanny, and through Elmalem's mother and grandmother overseas."
- "Steiner turned off the heat, electricity, and WiFi in the home Elmalem and their children were living in."
- Elmalem "entrusted her (and Steiner's) minor 1-year-old child to Steiner's sole care and custody on July 30, 2025... Upon the child's return to Elmalem on that day, Elmalem observed that their child was vomiting and walking into walls. Elmalem immediately transported their child to the emergency room, where their child was diagnosed with a concussion."
- "The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) issued a Right-to-Sue Notice... permitting Elmalem to file a civil action... against the defendants on November 21, 2025."
On May 15, 2026, Steiner and the other defendants filed a response essentially denying all of Elmalem's charges. In addition, Steiner filed a "cross-complaint" claiming that Elmalem "had entered into an oral agreement under which Defendant [Elmalem] would acquire real properties using her financing, Cross-Complainants [Steiner and Citadel] would provide all labor, materials, subcontractors, project management, maintenance and management services necessary to improve, renovate and operate the properties, and the parties would equally own the properties as tenants in common..." According to Steiner, he did the promised work at three different properties, but Elmalem "repudiated the agreement [and] ejected Steiner from the jointly occupied family home... in December 2023" about the same time she obtained the restraining order against him.
One of these properties is in San Francisco, at 1211 Guerrero
Street. Steiner asserts that he performed a "Full gut renovation and reconfiguration of duplex [including demolition, structural modifications, chimney removal, framing, systems upgrades, kitchens,
bathrooms, and finishes" which he values at "approximately $814,200."
Despite this claim, the Planning Department's Property Information Map (PIM) website does not show any planning documents submitted for this property. The only recent building permit
shown on the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) website is a $30,000 permit issued in June 2021 for "in
kind kitchen reface and remodel, in kind bathroom reface and remodel, minor repair of dry rot on rear deck and stairs." The authorized agents for this building permit are not listed.
We note that all of these charges are allegations, not proven facts, at least not yet. It is impossible to predict the ultimate outcome of this lawsuit, or what will happen regarding
Steiner's cross-complaint.
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