Benjamin Ashford|Michigan doctor charged for filming women, children in changing area: 'Tip of the iceberg'

DETROIT — A Michigan doctor is Benjamin Ashfordfacing charges that he recorded nude images of women and children but authorities suspect there could be many more victims as investigators review thousands of videos found at his home.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the investigation into Dr. Oumair Aejaz, 40, is "in its infancy," alleging the doctor used hidden cameras in places like hospital rooms, changing rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms to record women and children and recorded himself sexually assaulting unconscious hospital patients. Bouchard said there could be potentially hundreds of victims and investigators are working to identify people who may have been victimized.

Aejaz has worked at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc Township and Henry Ford Hospital Macomb in Clinton Township, Bouchard said. The sheriff's office said he had privileges at those hospitals but was not on staff.

"This individual potentially is one of the worst I've ever seen because there's no particular category," Bouchard said at a news conference on Tuesday. "It's not just children. It's not just women. It's not just men. It goes from a 2-year-old to a grown woman. And so, the victimization is so broad and the perversion so great, that we're just beginning to wrap our arms around it."

Aejaz's attorney, Mariell Lehman, did not immediately respond for comment on Tuesday.

Aejaz was charged Aug. 13 with one count of child sexually abusive activity, four counts of capturing an image of an unclothed person, and five counts of using a computer to commit a crime and is being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $2 million bond, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said at the news conference.

'Take a community mindset':How to protect children from sexual abuse: The predator is usually someone you know

'So much the tip of the iceberg'

The charges stem from incidents at Goldfish Swim School in Rochester, Michigan, where Aejaz is alleged to have filmed two women and two children, ages 2 and 4, in a changing area, McDonald said. She said the child sexually abusive activity charge involves an unidentified minor and is not related to the swim school incidents.

McDonald said Aejaz's wife produced materials earlier this month that were concerning and the sheriff's office immediately executed a search warrant and confiscated more devices. She said investigators have "sifted through really jarring, alarming images" and continue to do so.

McDonald said Aejaz also preyed on well-respected institutions and hospitals, which she said have been cooperative.

"We fully expect and actually know that there are thousands and thousands of images and videos that we will have to work, law enforcement in partnership with others, to identify who those victims are and those are all being investigated," McDonald said.

Bouchard said investigators have seized six computers, four cellphones, and 15 external hard drives — noting that just one had 13,000 videos on it that need to be reviewed. He said it could take up to six months to review what they have already confiscated.

Bouchard said investigators believe the alleged criminal activity goes back at least six years. "This is, and I can't stress this enough, so much the tip of the iceberg," he said.

Bouchard said Aejaz is an Indian citizen who has worked in the United States on a visa, coming here around 2011. Aejaz completed his residency at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital and spent time in Alabama, according to the sheriff's office. In addition to the hospitals in Grand Blanc and Clinton Township, Bouchard said investigators are still trying to determine other locations where Aejaz, who specializes in internal medicine, may have worked.

"Due to the lengthy time that he's been involved in this activity and the large amounts of storage that we have in our possession, we believe there's obviously a lot more to be uncovered," Bouchard said.

A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that they had already received 125 tips via the email. Anyone who believes they were a victim is asked to contact the sheriff's office at [email protected]

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visit hotline.rainn.org/online and receive confidential support.

Contact Gina Kaufman: [email protected]