MINEOLA, N.Y. (Diya TV) — A former sleep technician who secretly filmed hundreds of patients and staff in bathrooms at a Long Island medical center has avoided jail time, drawing sharp criticism from prosecutors. Sanjai Syamaprasad, 48, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to five counts of second-degree unlawful surveillance and two counts of tampering with physical evidence—both Class E felonies. A Nassau County judge sentenced him to five years of probation and sex offender registration. No prison time was ordered.
The sentence, handed down by Judge Meryl Berkowitz on July 15, has sparked outrage from law enforcement. Prosecutors say Syamaprasad recorded hundreds of people, including children, by planting hidden cameras in bathroom facilities at the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center in Great Neck and STARS Rehabilitation in Manhasset, where he worked.
Syamaprasad, a father and former sleep technician, admitted to placing spy cameras disguised as smoke detectors in nine bathrooms between July 2023 and April 2024. Prosecutors said he used Velcro dots to position the devices near showers and toilets. He installed the cameras in both staff and patient bathrooms and even placed one in a public restroom.
After each shift, he reportedly removed the camera, downloaded the footage, and stored it at his Brooklyn home. Authorities launched an investigation in April 2024 after Northwell Health reported Syamaprasad. The facility had caught him watching illicit videos on his phone while at work. He was immediately fired, and police executed a search warrant at his home shortly afterward.
Investigators discovered that Syamaprasad tried to destroy evidence. He tossed a camera and a damaged SD card into a trash can at a CVS pharmacy. Detectives later recovered the discarded items from a nearby dumpster. Police arrested him the same day.
More than 300 video recordings were seized during the investigation. The footage included images of patients, coworkers, and at least one child. Though hundreds were recorded, officials could only identify five victims, which limited the charges. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly strongly objected to the plea deal. She said the sentence failed to reflect the severity of the crimes.
“This case deserved jail time,” Donnelly said. “It’s not a one-off. It was night after night, victim after victim. This was a massive violation of people’s privacy and rights.”
Donnelly pushed for consecutive prison terms of one to three years for each felony count. She warned that the lenient sentence could send the wrong message to offenders and victims alike. Judge Berkowitz cited Syamaprasad’s “remorse” and completion of a rehabilitation program as reasons for granting probation instead of prison time.
The case has stirred public concern about privacy in medical facilities. Patients expect to be treated with dignity, especially in sensitive settings like sleep centers. Prosecutors argue the punishment does not match the scale of Syamaprasad’s crimes.
Medical experts and patient advocates have also called for stronger protections and oversight in healthcare environments. They say institutions must remain vigilant against staff misconduct. Northwell Health said it took immediate action once the misconduct was discovered and has since cooperated fully with the investigation.
Syamaprasad is due to begin his five-year probation and must now register as a sex offender in New York. While he avoids jail, the victims live with lasting emotional harm. Authorities say the recordings were invasive and deeply traumatic for those targeted. Several victims continue to receive counseling.
