In a shocking case of alleged illegal surveillance, Michael Esposito, the owner of a fast-food chicken restaurant in New York City, faces serious accusations after it came to light that he secretly installed a hidden camera in the room of his au pair, Kelly Andrade. The case has attracted considerable media attention, culminating in a Brooklyn jury ordering Esposito and his wife to pay Andrade a staggering $2.78 million.

Andrade, originally from Colombia, had undergone extensive training before entering the au pair program. She was matched with 35-year-old Esposito, proprietor of LaRosa Grill, and began her role in his Staten Island home, where she cared for his four children.

Shortly after her arrival, Andrade began to notice Esposito’s unsettling behavior. She observed him frequently entering her room and adjusting the smoke detector mounted on the ceiling. After approximately three weeks, she inspected the smoke detector and found a hidden camera inside, which contained hundreds of videos—some of which showed her changing clothes and undressing.

Upon discovering the camera, Andrade recalled a distressing incident when Esposito returned home, pounding on her door in a state of panic. Fearing for her safety, she initially pretended to be asleep but ultimately decided to escape through a window, injuring her knee in the process.

Once she fled, Andrade contacted the police and handed over the memory card containing the incriminating footage. Her attorney, Zachary Holtzberg, revealed that on the night of her escape, she had nowhere to go and was forced to spend the night in a bush on the street. Esposito was arrested on March 24, 2021, on charges of illegal surveillance, a felony that could carry a four-year prison sentence. However, after completing a year of counseling, he was allowed to withdraw his felony plea and was instead charged with attempted illegal surveillance, resulting in a two-year probation sentence.

Andrade expressed her deep frustration with the leniency of Esposito’s punishment, stating that it does not reflect the suffering she has endured over the past three years. She spoke candidly about the irreversible damage he inflicted upon her and expressed a desire for a harsher sentence.

In the end, the jury held Esposito accountable, mandating that he pay Andrade $2.78 million in total damages, which includes $2 million in punitive damages and $780,000 for emotional distress.

Now residing in New Jersey with her husband, Andrade is actively receiving therapy. She described the lawsuit as a challenging ordeal that brought back painful memories she had been striving to put behind her. Andrade urges other au pairs and immigrants facing similar mistreatment to find their voice and report their abusers without fear.