Joshua Joseph Gray, 45, of New Smyrna Beach, and George Douglas Metz, 51, of Belleview, were found guilty after a bench trial before United States Magistrate Judge Embry J. Kidd. Both men have been ordered to pay $3,000 in fines and will serve six months of probation. The charges were filed in late 2023.
Between November 2022 and January 2023, Gray and Metz entered three Social Security offices in Central Florida, openly recording videos despite clear warnings from posted signs and staff.
The duo ignored directives from Social Security representatives that video recording was prohibited without prior approval. The rule exists to safeguard the privacy of individuals sharing sensitive personal information during their visits.
Gray and Metz later uploaded the videos to their public YouTube channels, where they monetized the content and solicited donations from viewers. The recordings included footage of members of the public and Social Security staff conducting business, raising significant privacy concerns.