Former Expedia employee Marcelo Vargas-Fernandez was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to 14 felony counts of voyeurism and two misdemeanor counts for violating a sexual assault protection order.
The case stems from hidden cameras placed in company bathrooms at Expedia’s Seattle campus. In December 2023, an employee reported finding what appeared to be a hidden camera under a sink, but campus security initially mistook it for a music player or battery backup and did not remove it, according to FOX 13 Seattle.
Vargas-Fernandez was arrested Feb. 1, 2024, after a coworker discovered the camera, which was later correctly identified by investigators. A search of his Lynnwood apartment uncovered 33 spy cameras in various forms of concealment, along with 22 SD cards and six hard drives containing at least 20 terabytes of data, according to court documents cited by KOMO News.
During sentencing, victim impact statements described lasting trauma. “A seemingly reliable colleague turned out to be a voyeuristic predator...what he did was deliberate,” a victim advocate said, according to KOMO News. Another victim said the ordeal triggered early menopause.
Vargas-Fernandez also addressed the court, admitting his actions, expressing remorse, and saying he was mentally and emotionally unstable at the time.
In an expression of apology, Vargas-Fernandez told the court, “This is my fault; I should have asked for help" and extended his regret to his former employer, stating, “To Expedia, I am sorry because you were there for me I should have asked for help and recognized that I was mentally and emotionally unstable," as per KING 5 News. He is also required to register as a sex offender upon release and will be under community supervision for 12 months. Lastly, the ongoing litigation against Securitas, the security contractor accused of failing to properly address the discovered cameras, was highlighted by FOX 13 Seattle, which mentioned the civil lawsuit victims are pursuing against them.
