MINEOLA, N.Y. — A Brooklyn man has been indicted for allegedly using hidden cameras disguised as smoke detectors to record patients in bathrooms at a Nassau County sleep center, including at least one child, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Sanjai Syamaprasad, 47, a former employee at the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center in Manhasset, faces five counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree and two counts of tampering with physical evidence. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court on June 12.
According to prosecutors, between July 2023 and April 2024, Syamaprasad allegedly installed a camera in patient and staff bathrooms at the sleep center and an adjacent rehabilitation facility. The device, appearing to be a smoke detector, was mounted using Velcro and removed by the defendant at the end of his shifts to download footage.
“This defendant allegedly used hidden cameras secreted in smoke detectors to capture hundreds of videos of patients in bathrooms at a sleep and rehabilitation center, including children,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
Key Points
- Syamaprasad is accused of recording patients with a hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector.
- At least five victims were identified from the footage, including a child.
- The camera and SD card were allegedly discarded at a Brooklyn CVS and later recovered by police.
Devices seized, evidence destroyed in attempted cover-up
Authorities executed a search warrant at Syamaprasad’s Brooklyn residence on April 25, 2024, where electronics including laptops, phones, and an SD card reader were seized. Investigators say Syamaprasad attempted to destroy evidence by disposing of the camera and a memory card at a local CVS.
The camera was recovered from a dumpster behind the store by a Nassau County detective. Syamaprasad was arrested that same day by DA’s Office investigators.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison.
