May 14--A veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol on Thursday admitted to installing a hidden camera to secretly videotape seven female employees undressing and using the toilet.
Armando Gonzalez, 46, a supervisor in the Chula Vista office, pleaded guilty in federal court in San Diego to one count of making false statements and seven counts of video voyeurism.
According to court documents, Gonzalez "did capture an image of a private area of an individual without their consent" and then lied to investigators that the camera was installed in the women's restroom as part of a drug investigation.
Documents allege that 300 images were retrieved from the camera, which was activated by a motion sensor. The taping began in July 2013 and continued until at least Jan. 9, prosecutors said.
"The crimes are an assault on the dignity of victims who are left to feel violated, powerless, anxious and unsafe," said U.S. Atty. Laura Duffy.
Gonzalez faces a possible 12 years in prison when sentenced Aug. 17.
