WEST MIAMI, Fla. – A man could be spending quite some time behind bars after police said he was accused of fondling a woman who was heavily sedated after having cosmetic surgery in West Miami earlier this month.
On March 5, a woman traveled from Massachusetts to Miami for cosmetic surgery at My Cosmetic Surgery, located inside Plaza America, at 6166 SW Eighth St., according to an arrest report.
Authorities said that the woman had also made arrangements and paid for post-operative recovery services at Mamas Recovery House, located near the 2700 block of Southwest 65th Avenue.
The woman was reportedly picked up at the airport by Jose Gregorio Sacon Basantes, 26, of Miami, who transported her to the recovery center.
Police said the recovery center was operated by Melissa Leon Acosta, Sacon Basantes’ wife. Sacon Basantes was subsequently responsible for the victim’s transportation between the surgery center and the recovery location from March 5 to March 8, the report stated.
During her stay at the recovery center, the woman encountered other patients undergoing post-operative recovery, with Sacon Basantes serving as the sole driver for all patients of the recovery house, according to police.
On March 7, investigators said the woman underwent surgery at My Cosmetic Surgery. After discharge, Sacon Basantes picked her up to transport her back to the recovery center.
Following the surgery, police said the woman was heavily medicated.
While seated in the front seat of a vehicle during transport, Sacon Basantes recorded himself fondling the woman’s breasts and running his hand down to her thighs, according to investigators.
Authorities said that due to the woman’s medicated state, she was unable to confront Sacon Basantes at the time.
Later that day, the woman recalled the incident and confronted Sacon Basantes, who denied any wrongdoing, claiming the woman was hallucinating, police said.
His arrest report indicated that the woman then informed Leon Acosta of the incident.
Upon being informed, police said Leon Acosta retrieved Sacon Basantes’ cellphone and discovered a recently deleted video file depicting the woman appearing unconscious in the front seat of a vehicle with bandages that were consistent with her surgery.
According to the report, the video showed a hand fondling the woman’s exposed breasts and running down to her thighs before Leon Acosta abruptly stopped it and left the room.
Authorities mentioned that in the subsequent days, Leon Acosta contacted the woman, pleading with her not to involve the police, and returned $400 to the woman via CashApp.
Police said on March 15, Sacon Basantes was observed leaving the recovery center when he was apprehended.
According to jail records, he is facing one count each of video voyeurism on a person 19 years or older and battery.
Sacon Basantes did not appear in the Miami-Dade Correction’s inmate search as of Monday afternoon.
His mother came to her son’s defense, calling the criminal charges bogus and ultimately blaming the victim for trying to shake down her son for cash.