• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Airbnb Host Accused Of Having Hidden Cameras And Taking 2,100 Explicit Images Of Guests

Home> News

Updated 20:15 9 Mar 2022 GMTPublished 15:27 9 Mar 2022 GMT

Airbnb Host Accused Of Having Hidden Cameras And Taking 2,100 Explicit Images Of Guests

Jay Allee, 54, was arrested in November 2021 after a guest at his cabin rental in Texas discovered a hidden camera.

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy Phillipson

An Airbnb host has been charged for spying on guests after police discovered he’d taken 2,100 explicit photos and videos with secret recording devices. 

Jay Allee, 54, was arrested in November 2021 after a guest at his cabin rental in Texas discovered a hidden camera in the bedroom that was made to look like a power adapter for a router. 

Upon the discovery in July, the guest contacted authorities, who later examined the camera along with Allee’s other devices and discovered he’d been secretly recording people for a year. 

A Jay Allee.
Kendall County Sheriff's Office

Advert

On laptops, tablets and phones that were linked to the camera and reportedly belonged to the Airbnb host, police found more than 2,100 images of guests naked, half-dressed or having sex, as per Newsweek.

Following his initial arrest, Allee was charged with four counts of invasive visual recording, a felony offence in the state of Texas that carries a sentence of up to 180 days to two years in jail, and a fine of up to $10,000. 

However, the outlet explained that he now faces 15 counts in a civil suit accusing him of intentionally causing emotional distress and invasion of privacy. 

Prior to the discovery, Allee’s Cielito Lindo Ranch cabin located in Comfort, Texas, was favourably reviewed as a vacation spot. 

Advert

The hidden camera was made to look like a power adaptor.
Kendall County Sheriff's Office

The civil suit filed against Allee in December revealed that the 54-year-old had attained the status of being an Airbnb Superhost and a VRBO Premier Host, which attorney Roger Bresnahan said ‘adds an extra layer’ in the guests’ opinion ‘that this is a safe, reputable location to stay’.

He added, ‘It’s frightening how many people are victims of this, this intrusion.’

Bianca Zuniga-Goldwater, who joins Bresnahan in representing 17 of the people who stayed at Allee's rental cabin, compared the situation to a ‘real-life scary movie’.

Advert

‘It's a real-life scary movie. It's not like these clients of ours went on the classifieds and found a random property, posted by this faceless person to stay at,’ they told KSAT.

‘They went through what they thought were these safe, huge premier hosting companies that vet these great properties.’

Nico LaHood, a lawyer for Allee, said the host is ‘looking forward to his day in court’ as he maintains his innocence. 

The cabin is located in Texas.
Kendall County Sheriff's Office

Advert

According to Airbnb’s policy, security cameras and noise-monitoring devices are allowed as long as they are clearly disclosed in the listing description and don’t infringe on another person’s privacy.

A spokesperson from the vacation rental company said, ‘The reported criminal behaviour of this bed-and-breakfast owner is outrageous, and he and his property are banned from Airbnb. Our law enforcement operations team has been working to support the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation.’

The case is ongoing. 

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]  

Featured Image Credit: Kendall County Sheriff’s Office/CBS46

Topics: Travel, Crime

Daisy Phillipson
Daisy Phillipson

Daisy graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, writing a thesis on the move from print to digital publishing. Continuing this theme, she has written for a range of online publications including Digital Spy and Little White Lies, with a particular passion for TV and film. Contact her on [email protected]

X

@DaisyWebb77

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Diddy denied bail after being found guilty on 2 out of 5 counts in sex trafficking and prostitution case

    Diddy has been denied bail after being found guilty on two of five charges he was facing

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Donald Trump makes shocking threat he wants to deport US citizens and people are stunned

    Donald Trump has made a threat to deport US citizens following the opening of a migrant centre in Florida

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Bryan Kohberger speaks for first time in court admitting to how he brutally murdered four Idaho students

    The Idaho murder suspect has spoken out following the brutal murders of four students in 2022

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Former prosecutor explains why Diddy was found not guilty on 3 out of 5 counts in sex trafficking and prostitution case

    A legal expert has shared his thoughts about why Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been found not guilty of three counts

    News
  • Man accused of shooting wife and four young children after birthday party
  • Man accused of killing wife and four young children claims ‘TV told him’ to do it
  • Doctor accused of murdering 15 patients and trying to cover it up with elaborate arson scheme
  • Video shows man being arrested for 'illegally eating sandwich' and people say police are 'out of control'