A manager at the TJ Maxx in Machesney Park is facing felony charges after investigators say a hidden camera was discovered inside a women’s dressing room, triggering a sheriff’s investigation and a public plea for potential victims to come forward.
According to deputies, officers were called to the West Lane Road store on February 28 after a customer reported spotting a small camera tucked into a ceiling tile in the women’s fitting area. The store manager was later identified as a suspect and charged. FOX 32 Chicago reports that 37-year-old Jeffrey Wallin was charged on March 4 with unauthorized video recording, live video transmission, and obstructing justice.
Winnebago County detectives say a review of store surveillance and other electronic evidence showed Wallin entering the women’s dressing area multiple times and acting in ways investigators described as suspicious. Detectives told WIFR that Wallin admitted placing the recording device and watching footage, and that SD-card readers and related items were recovered during searches. The station also reported that the store’s corporate office said it was “cooperating fully with local law enforcement.”
Authorities want possible victims to reach out
Investigators are asking anyone who used the women’s dressing rooms at the Machesney Park TJ Maxx between May 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026 to contact Winnebago County Sheriff’s Detective Valdivieso at 815-319-6406. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active and ongoing, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
How Illinois law applies
The counts for unauthorized video recording and live transmission fall under Illinois’ Unauthorized Video Recording and Live Video Transmission statute, 720 ILCS 5/26-4, which bans nonconsensual recording in restrooms, changing rooms and similar private spaces, according to the Illinois Compiled Statutes. A conviction on a Class 4 felony in Illinois generally carries a potential sentence of one to three years in prison, based on statewide sentencing guidance from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
Next steps in the case
Wallin is scheduled for arraignment on April 15, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office says the probe is continuing. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to call Detective Valdivieso at 815-319-6406, WIFR reported.
