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Joint Investigation Leads to Several Arrests in West Palm Beach

By Florida Department of Health, Office of Communications

February 14, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2014

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

JOINT INVESTIGATION LEADS TO SEVERAL ARRESTS IN WEST PALM BEACH

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health’s West Palm Beach Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit announced today that a joint investigation with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security (INS) has led to the arrest of three people. Juan Carlos Pinzon, Jorge Alarcon, and Monica Daza were arrested for the unlicensed practice of medicine resulting in great bodily harm, which is a second degree felony and punishable by up to 15 years in prison for each count.

An investigation into the activities of Health and Beauty Cosmetic Surgery, located at 407 Evernia Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, was prompted by a report to the Department from a physician who advised he consulted with numerous women who complained about poor results from procedures performed by unlicensed persons at Health and Beauty Cosmetic Surgery.

On February 13, 2014, the joint Department and Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Multi-Agency Diversion Taskforce operation led to the arrest of Juan Carlos Pinzon for three counts of practicing medicine without a license resulting in great bodily harm and one count of practicing medicine without a License. Jorge Alarcon was arrested for two counts of practicing medicine without a license resulting in great bodily harm. Monica Alexandra Daza was arrested for one count of unlicensed practice of medicine resulting in great bodily harm.

The Department has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:

  • Consumers are encouraged to use the Department’s web site at www.FlHealthSource.gov where they can view the license information of their health care practitioner.
  • Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form on the Department’s website, or calling 1-877-HALT-ULA or 1-888-419-3456.

The Department’s ULA program protects Florida residents and visitors from the potentially serious and dangerous consequences of receiving medical and health care services from an unlicensed person. The Department’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations. The ULA works in conjunction with law enforcement and the state attorney’s offices to prosecute individuals practicing without a license. In many instances, unlicensed activity is a felony-level criminal offense. More importantly, receiving health care from unlicensed people is dangerous and could result in further injury, disease or even death.

Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA regulates seven types of facilities and 200-plus license types in more than 40 healthcare professions. MQA evaluates the credentials of all applicants for licensure, issues licenses, analyzes and investigates complaints, inspects facilities, assists in prosecuting practice act violations, combats unlicensed activity and provides credential and discipline history about licensees to the public. Visit www.FlHealthSource.gov for additional information about MQA.

The Department works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit our web site at www.floridahealth.gov.

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