Florida scammer posing as doctor gave Botox injections in backyard shed, causing woman to suffer facial paralysis: cops
Rosa Mena, 50, was busted Wednesday after the numb-faced victim reported the botched procedure to police, who uncovered a stockpile of Botox, syringes, and other medical supplies from the unlicensed makeshift clinic behind the Coosa Drive home, according to the Port St. Lucie Police Department.
'We want to remind the public to research the facility and individual prior to performing procedures,' cops said in a Facebook post that included pictures of the illicit shack.
Advertisement
5 Rosa Mena, 50, was arrested Wednesday for performing illegal medical procedures from a makeshift backyard shed.
Port St. Lucie Police Department
'Additionally, in order to perform injectable procedures like Botox it needs to be performed by a licensed professional. Your safety is our priority!'
Police said the scorned client visited the alleged scammer's rogue treatment hut in May and paid $325 for the faulty injection that left her face paralyzed.
5 Exterior of a backyard shed used for illegal Botox injections.
Port St. Lucie Police Department
Advertisement
5 Containers of medical vials were seized from the rogue treatment shack.
Port St. Lucie Police Department
The alarmed woman later confronted the bogus medic, who refunded the payment and persuaded her to return for another procedure, during which Mena injected vitamins into the victim's face in an attempt to 'reverse' the damage.
5 Police also found medical beds and supplies.
Port St. Lucie Police Department
Advertisement
When complications persisted, the suspicious victim demanded the imposter's medical license, something she did not have. Instead, Mena claimed she was formerly a doctor in the Dominican Republic and presented an altered – and expired – phlebotomy certificate, cops said.
The multi-agency investigation later seized medical beds, medications, vials, needles, fat sculpting machines, PRP injections, micro-needling and laser hair removal equipment, laser lipo machines, massage and facial devices, and injectables for fillers and Botox.
5 Plastic container of medical supplies seized from an unlicensed medical facility.
Port St. Lucie Police Department
Advertisement
Mena was hit with three counts of aggravated battery, three counts of practicing medicine without an active license, two counts of fraud, and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
She is being held at St. Lucie County Jail on $95,000 bond.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
16 hours ago
- New York Post
Illinois landlord who killed 6-year-old Palestinian-American, injured his mother in hate crime stabbing dies in prison
A landlord jailed for decades after he attacked a Palestinian American boy and his mother has died. Three months ago, Joseph Czuba was sentenced to 53 years behind bars for the attack. He was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of the boy's mother, Hanan Shaheen. The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which started days earlier. 6 Joseph Czuba, who was convicted of murdering a Palestinian American boy and injuring his mother, has passed way at the age of 73. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File 6 Czuba attacked Wadee Alfayoumi, 6, and his mother Hanan Shaheen days after the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel in 2023. Facebook / Hanan A Shaheen Czuba died Thursday in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to a statement from the Will County Sheriff's Office. Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations' Chicago office, said in a statement on Saturday that 'this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.' Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict. 6 Czuba was sentenced to 53 years in prison for murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges. WILL COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY/AFP via Getty Images 6 Czuba targeted the mother and child for their Muslim faith in response to the terror attacks in Israel. Family Handout The family had been renting rooms in Czuba's home in Plainfield, about 40 miles from Chicago when the attack happened. Central to prosecutors' case was harrowing testimony from the boy's mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim. Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czuba's wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier. 6 Wadee's father Odai Alfayoumi leaving Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., following Czuba's sentencing on May 2, 2025. Felix Sarver/The Herald-News via AP 6 Mourner's carrying Wadee's coffin at his funeral at at Parkholm Cemetery on Oct. 16, 2023. Photo byPolice said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the child's body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadee's relatives. The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadee's funeral drew large crowds, and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
AI-fueled crypto scams are booming, up 456% — and no one is safe, expert warns
Crypto crooks are getting bolder — and now, they sound just like your mom. Global crypto scams soared 456% between May 2024 and April 2025 — becoming increasingly reliant on AI-generated voices, deepfake videos and phony credentials to fleece unsuspecting victims, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs' Ari Redbord told The Post after testifying before Congress last Tuesday. 'These scams are highly effective, as the technology feels incredibly real and familiar to the victim,' Redbord said. Advertisement 4 TRM Labs' Ari Redbord, who testified before Congress last week, says scammers are now using AI-generated voices and deepfake credentials to mimic loved ones and steal crypto. Igor Faun – 'We've seen cases where scammers use AI to replicate the voice of a loved one, tricking the victim into transferring money under the guise of an urgent request.' And the threat is exploding — especially in high-density cities like New York, Miami and Los Angeles, he added. In June, New York officials froze $300,000 in stolen cryptocurrency and seized more than 100 scam websites linked to a Vietnam-based ring that targeted Russian-speaking Brooklynites with fake Facebook investment ads. Advertisement Meta shut down over 700 Facebook accounts tied to the scam. Investigators say the group used deepfake BitLicense certificates and moved victims onto encrypted apps like Telegram before draining their wallets. 4 Even crypto pros aren't safe — MoonPay's CEO and CFO were conned into wiring $250,000 to a scammer pretending to be a Trump inauguration insider. Igor Faun – Advertisement Some New Yorkers lost hundreds of thousands of dollars — and it's not just everyday joes getting targeted. Even crypto insiders are falling for it. Florida-based crypto firm MoonPay saw its CEO Ivan Soto-Wright and CFO Mouna Ammari Siala duped into wiring $250,000 in crypto to a scammer posing as Trump inauguration co-chair Steve Witkoff, according to a recent Department of Justice complaint. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Globally, fraudsters swiped more than $10.7 billion in 2024 through crypto cons — including romance scams, fake trading platforms and 'pig-butchering,' where scammers build fake relationships before draining victims' accounts, Redbord said. Advertisement In the US, Americans filed nearly 150,000 crypto-related fraud complaints in 2024, with losses topping $3.9 billion, according to the FBI. But the real number is likely much higher. 4 A Vietnam-based ring targeted Brooklyn's Russian-speaking community with fake BitLicenses and phony Facebook accounts before vanishing with hundreds of thousands. Igor Faun – 'Only around 15% of victims actually report these crimes,' Redbord said, citing shame, fear and distrust in law enforcement — particularly among older adults and immigrant communities. One of these scammers go-to tools? Crypto ATMs — especially those tucked inside New York delis and convenience stores. Illicit use at these kiosks is more than twice as high as in the broader crypto market, Redbord said. Victims are often directed to scan a QR code and deposit cash, instantly converting it to crypto before the funds disappear. As the scams rage on, Washington is starting to bring order to the Wild West of crypto. 4 Officials say the real number of crypto scam victims is far higher than reported, as shame and fear keep many from coming forward. Igor Faun – House lawmakers wrapped up 'Crypto Week' last Thursday by passing the first-ever comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation — a trio of bills focused on regulating stablecoins, trading platforms and digital asset infrastructure. Advertisement Even so, Redbord advised, common sense is the best defense. 'If something feels too good to be true — especially unsolicited investment advice — it almost always is,' he said. 'Verify the platform. Confirm identities. And when in doubt, report it — whether to IC3, Chainabuse or your local authorities.'
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Grand Rapids residents urged to be on the lookout for coyotes, report sightings
Police in one northern Minnesota city are asking residents to report any coyote sightings. This message comes after a few close encounters with the wild animal along walking trails north of West Elementary School in Grand Rapids. The police department says you should avoid the area, but if you must be there, to make sure you are aware of your surroundings. The Grand Rapids Police Department also says a handful or reports have been made involving coyote interaction with humans, including one where the animal followed a person who was running on the trail. The coyote then brushed up against the runner's leg before running away. Another person said the animal followed them and their dog and only left after the caller said they threw rocks at the animal. Police add another person reported a coyote nipped their ankle while running.
