Nanny Awarded $2.8 Million in Compensation After Wealthy Boss Secretly Installed Hidden Camera in Her Room

What looked like a dream job for 25-year-old Colombian nanny, Kelly Andrade, quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal.

Her employer, a wealthy business owner, secretly recorded her in her most private moments. 

Kelly Andrade

A Dream Job Turned Nightmare

When Kelly Andrade moved to the United States in 2021, she had high hopes. 

Having gone through extensive training with Cultural Care Au Pair, she was ready to start a new chapter as a nanny for the wealthy Esposito family. 

Michael Esposito was a fast-food mogul who owned three LaRosa Grill franchises.

He lived with his family in Staten Island, New York. 

Micheal hired Kelly Andrade to care for his four children. 

The family was temporarily staying in a luxurious waterfront home while their $2.3 million mansion was under renovation.

Andrade's job started off smoothly, and she quickly bonded with the children. 

But things took a dark turn just a few weeks later.

Michael Esposito

A Disturbing Discovery

One day, Kelly Andrade noticed something odd in her room.

Michael Esposito frequently tampered with the smoke alarm in her bedroom. 

Initially, she didn’t think much of it, but as it continued, she grew suspicious. 

Less than three weeks into her job, she decided to take a closer look at the device. 

To her surprise, she found a hidden camera inside the smoke detector. 

The camera was equipped with a memory card that contained “hundreds” of hours of recordings.

Most of the recordings showed her nude or in the process of dressing and undressing.

Terrified by her discovery, Kelly Andrade didn’t know how to react. 

Soon after the discovery, her boss Esposito arrived home and, he appeared nervous.

This made Kelly Andrade feel even more unsafe. 

She pretended to be asleep, but when Esposito started banging on her door, she became very scared. 

In a moment of panic, she jumped out of a first-floor window and ran into a bush, where she hid for the rest of the night.

The next morning, Andrade went to the police and reported the incident. 

Michael Esposito was arrested on March 24, 2021.

He was charged with unlawful surveillance, a felony that could have resulted in up to four years in prison.

For Kelly Andrade, the emotional trauma was unbearable 

After she realized the extent of the violation, the sense of betrayal was overwhelming. 

Her most intimate moments had been secretly recorded by the person who was supposed to be her employer and protector.

A Legal Fight for Justice

In April 2022, Micheal Esposito entered into a "two-step plea deal." 

Instead of facing the full weight of the law, he was allowed to withdraw his felony plea after completing a year of counseling. 

In the end, he pled guilty to attempted unlawful surveillance, a misdemeanor. 

He was sentenced to just two years of probation. 

To Kelly Andrade and her attorney, Zachary Holzberg, this outcome felt like a slap in the face. 

Despite his actions, Michael Esposito was able to return home to his wife and children, while Andrade had to live with the emotional scars of his betrayal. 

Michael Esposito and his wife

During the civil trial Kelly Andrade testified about her experiences in detail. 

She explained the fear, shame, and lasting trauma caused by the recordings. 

Michael Esposito, on the other hand, never took the stand.

At the end of the trial, the jury awarded Kelly Andrade a total of $2.8 million in damages. 

This included $780,000 for emotional distress caused by both Michael and his wife, Danielle Esposito. 

Additionally, Michael was ordered to pay $2 million in punitive damages as a form of punishment for his actions.

While the financial settlement was substantial, Kelly Andrade expressed disappointment. 

She felt that no amount of money could fully compensate for the irreversible harm done to her. 

Speaking to the media after the verdict, Andrade said, “It’s not enough for the whole situation I’ve been through these three years. 

It’s not enough. I was angry because the damage that he caused me is irreversible.”

Speaking Out for Others

Now living in New Jersey with her husband, Andrade is determined to turn her traumatic experience into a message of hope and resilience. 

She aims to speak out for other au pairs and immigrants who may have faced similar abuses but are too afraid to come forward. 

“Don’t keep quiet. Don’t be afraid to report your aggressor,” she urged in a statement to the press.

Despite the fear and uncertainty she faced, Andrade’s courage in reporting the crime and pursuing justice has sent a powerful message. 

While she may never fully recover from the trauma she endured, her willingness to speak out has created a path for others to follow. 

In another case, a nanny has been charged with murder after she conspired with her boss to kill his wife.

Click here for more details on that case.

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