On May 5th, 2023, the FBI announced the arrest of a cruise passenger who had allegedly installed a hidden camera in a public bathroom on a Royal Caribbean ship and recorded over 150 people, including at least 40 minors. Jeremy Froias faces charges of video voyeurism and attempted possession of child exploitation material.
According to court documents, Froias boarded the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship on April 29th in Miami for a seven-day cruise that was set to make stops in St. Maarten, San Juan, and the Bahamas before returning to Miami. About a day after the ship set sail, Froias allegedly installed a hidden Wi-Fi camera in a public bathroom on the aft part of Harmony’s top deck.
A passenger noticed the hidden camera about two days after it was installed and reported it to the crew. The crew then searched the bathroom and found and seized the hidden camera. Royal Caribbean security noticed a micro SD card in the camera and reviewed the data, finding “several hours’ worth of .mp4 video files,” according to an FBI affidavit.
The first videos allegedly showed Froias setting the camera up and adjusting its angle to get a view of the toilet. Froias was recorded connecting his iPhone to the hidden camera using Wi-Fi, the affidavit states. Subsequent videos showed more than 150 individuals entering the bathroom to use the toilet or to change into or out of swimwear. Some victims were recorded naked, including children as young as 4 or 5 years old.
Froias allegedly admitted to placing the hidden camera in the bathroom during an interview with security personnel. He was arrested on May 4th, 2023. The FBI is asking for the public’s help in identifying the victims, and has set up a webpage where victims may file a report.
The bureau believes that Froias primarily targeted cruise ship passengers who may have used the public bathroom on the aft of the Harmony’s top deck between the ‘Flow Rider’ surfing simulator and a bar. Passengers using this bathroom may have been video recorded by Froias. Authorities are encouraging anyone who thinks they were victimized or who may know someone who was victimized to file a report.
This incident is a reminder of the importance of privacy and security while traveling. It is important to always be aware of your surroundings and to report any suspicious behavior to authorities immediately.
