Dec. 11, 2017 By Tara Law
A dishwasher at an Astoria Mexican restaurant recorded customers using the women’s bathroom by placing his phone in the ceiling vent, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
Hector-Miguel Ramirez-Vargas, 31, a delivery man and dishwasher at Holy Guacamole at 35-55 31st Street, admitted that he would hide his cellphone in the bathroom when “attractive women” came in the restaurant, according to police.
A female customer spotted the phone in the bathroom on Aug. 31, police said.
She went through the phone and found images of Ramirez-Vargas.
The victim also found a video of herself using the restroom, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office. Ramirez-Vargas had allegedly recorded the woman between 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
Ramirez-Vargas reportedly fled the restaurant soon after the phone was discovered.
After his arrest on Dec. 6., Ramirez-Vargas admitted to police detectives that he had planted the phone.
“When I would see attractive women in the restaurant I would put my cell phone in the women’s bathroom to record them using the bathroom for my own personal pleasure,” Ramirez-Vargas told the police, according to the criminal complaint.
Ramirez-Vargas was charged with second degree unlawful surveillance for sexual gratification. He is being held on $1,500 bond or $3,000 cash bail.
