A Manhattan jury has awarded $2.78 million to a “petrified” au pair who was secretly videotaped by a creepy Staten Island dad and fast-food rooster mogul — however the sufferer is outraged he obtained solely a “slap on the wrist” from prosecutors.
Michael Esposito, 35, recorded “tons of” of nude movies of Colombia native Kelly Andrade, 25, then tried to interrupt down her door as she cowered in concern after discovering a hidden digicam in her bed room, based on a Brooklyn Federal Court docket lawsuit.
He was arrested in 2021 on a cost of illegal surveillance, a felony punishable by as much as 4 years in jail. However the Staten Island District Lawyer and a Staten Island decide as an alternative allowed Esposito to stroll, offered he bear counseling and fulfill two years probation.
“It’s not sufficient for the entire state of affairs I’ve been via these three years. It’s not sufficient,” Andrade instructed The Publish earlier than breaking down in tears. “I used to be offended as a result of the harm that he precipitated me is irreversible.”
The twisted episode unfolded in 2021.
The South American girl underwent tons of of hours of coaching earlier than being employed by Cultural Care Au Pair — a placement agency — and coming to the US, the place the corporate located her with Esposito, the proprietor of three LaRosa Grill franchises, and his spouse, Danielle. The Espositos have been staying in Danielle’s mother and father waterfront Tottenville residence whereas their close by $2.3 million mansion was being renovated.
The Espositos gave Andrade a bed room to sleep in whereas she cared for his or her 4 younger youngsters, however the au pair claimed she saved catching Esposito in her room, twiddling with the ceiling smoke detector, which “was continually being repositioned,” based on the lawsuit.
Lower than three weeks into the job, she examined the smoke detector, discovering a digicam inside with a reminiscence card crammed with “tons of of recordings,” many capturing her “nude and/or dressing/undressing,” she charged within the lawsuit.
“Inside minutes” of her discovering the system, Esposito confirmed up on the home.
“He appeared very nervous and he appeared very frightened when he arrived to the home,” she recalled.
Andrade tried to faux she was sleeping in a bid to get Esposito to go away, however he was “banging on the door” and she or he entered “combat or flight mode,” she beforehand instructed The Publish.
“I have to get away,” she recounted.
She leapt from a first-floor window, injuring her knee within the course of.
The primary night time after leaving the Espositos, Andrade “slept on the road in a bush,” her legal professional, Zachary Holzberg instructed The Publish.
Andrade reported the incident to cops on the 123rd Precinct, who arrested Esposito March 24, 2021.
for his or her 4 younger youngsters, however Andrade claims she saved catching Esposito in her room, twiddling with
the smoke detector on the ceiling,” based on the federal lawsuit. Fb
However in April 2022 the Staten Island businessman “entered right into a two-step plea.” After “efficiently finishing” a yr of counseling, Esposito “was permitted” to withdraw his felony plea and pled right down to tried illegal surveillance, a misdemeanor, with solely two years probation, the Staten Island DA’s workplace stated.
Andrade and Holzberg wished Esposito behind bars.
On the four-day civil trial this month in Brooklyn Federal Court docket, Andrade testified for 3 days. Esposito by no means took the stand.
The au pair stated she was “in shock” simply to be in the identical room as Esposito.
Holzberg stated he argued that “there was no consequence” for Esposito, “who obtained probation . . . a slap on the wrist.”
The legal professional added: “Regardless of him doing this, he obtained to go residence to is spouse and youngsters of their mansion and she or he’s sleeping on the road.”
The jury awarded $780,000 in emotional misery damages towards each Michael and his spouse Danielle Esposito, in addition to $2 million in punitive damages towards the dad.
“Proper now I’m engaged on myself recovering,” Andrade stated. “It wasn’t straightforward for me to be on a trial. It was a really troublesome time for me. It brings again recollections that I’m making an attempt to neglect.”
cops on the 123rd Precinct on Staten Island. Supplied by Derek Smith Regulation Group, PLLC
Andrade, who lives in New Jersey along with her husband of two years, stated she is talking out “to encourage many au pairs and likewise immigrants who’ve been victims of abuse. Don’t preserve quiet. Don’t be afraid to report your aggressor.”
Andrade settled her lawsuit with Cultural Care Au Pair final month for an undisclosed sum, courtroom papers present.