Nevada man speaks out after suspect in Houston bathroom recording case allegedly used his Social Security number

HOUSTON – A recently retired Nevada man is sharing his perspective after police say a Houston restaurant worker allegedly used his Social Security number to get a job.

The fraud was discovered after the same employee was arrested for allegedly placing hidden cameras in the restaurant’s bathrooms.

Bayson Elias Pu, 31, is already facing a felony invasive visual recording charge after court records allege that he secretly placed a camera inside a bathroom at a Lupe Tortilla near the Katy Freeway.

READ MORE: Employee charged with invasive recording in Lupe Tortilla bathroom faces new charge related to stolen identity

His camera captured footage of unsuspecting customers using the restroom, including a young child.

He was arrested on Dec. 31, 2025, and remains in custody at the Harris County Jail with a $100,000 bond.

Authorities have now added a second felony charge, which is currently filed as fraudulent use of identifying information, stemming from Pu’s use of a Social Security number that belongs to a 66-year-old retired man from Las Vegas, Nevada.

In an interview with KPRC 2’s Michael Horton, the victim, identified only as Mark, said he first learned about the situation when a detective with Hedwig Village Police Department reached out to him on Monday.

He said he picked up his phone, and a Houston-area detective said someone had been hired using his Social Security number.

“My first thought was, I need to check Social Security and make sure he didn’t mess up my retirement,” Mark said.

OUR FIRST REPORT: Hidden camera found in Lupe Tortilla bathroom, employee charged with invasive recording

Mark spent decades as a telephone technician before retiring and said he has not seen any financial impact so far.

He said he suspects his Social Security number may have been used primarily for employment verification, not for filing taxes or other financial fraud.

“From what I understand, they caught him doing something else, and that’s how they got the background on him,” Mark said. “He’s just trying to get a job. If he was professional, he’d have gone about it differently.”

Mark described the experience as unsettling but not overly stressful.

Drawing on his extensive travel and work overseas, he said he has encountered scams before and doesn’t see a reason not to take this situation in stride.

“A guy having my Social Security number for verification of employment is not really that big on the radar for me,” he said.

Thursday, Hedwig Village Police Chief Wood told KPRC 2 that Pu also provided a resident alien card number during the investigation. No charges have been filed in connection with that number, as the victim was born in 1930, and officials are unsure if the cardholder is still alive.

SEE ALSO: Former Memorial Hermann director facing new hidden camera charges; records show he was a Houston-area teacher

While Mark supports law enforcement’s efforts to hold Pu accountable, he said he hopes the reporting of such cases is framed in a practical way for people to protect their sensitive information.

He ended the interview by saying he hoped his story would not be used by news outlets to scare the public.

“We don’t need all that doom and gloom,” he said. “We just need to be aware of what’s going on so we can take action if needed.”

Pu remains in custody, and officials say a new bond hearing is expected following the additional charge.

Officials also told KPRC 2 that there are discussions to possibly upgrade the identity theft charge to tampering with a government document. The investigation is ongoing.