Two men have been convicted for unlawfully video recording inside Social Security offices in Central Florida. United States Magistrate Judge Embry J. Kidd found Joshua Joseph Gray, 45, from New Smyrna Beach, and George Douglas Metz, 51, from Belleview, guilty of failing to comply with official signs and directives during a bench trial.

Gray and Metz were sentenced to pay a $3,000 fine each and serve six months' probation. They were charged by an Information on November 28, 2023.

Evidence presented at the trial showed that between November 2022 and January 2023, Gray and Metz entered three different Social Security field offices while video recording. Despite being informed by signage and representatives that recording is prohibited without prior permission due to privacy concerns for customers exchanging personal information, they continued their activities.

The videos recorded by Gray and Metz depicted members of the public and Social Security representatives conducting business. These recordings were later posted on their public YouTube channels where they received payments for their content and solicited donations.

The case was investigated by the Federal Protective Service along with the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.