August 31, 2015

JOINT INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST IN WEST PALM BEACH 

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health’s Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit in Palm Beach announced that their joint investigation with Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has led to the arrest of Francis Michelle Amador for the alleged unlicensed practice of massage therapy, which is a first degree misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in jail. 

The joint operation was conducted at Angels of Palm Beach, located at 1784 N. Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, where an undercover Department of Health investigator was offered a 30-minute massage by Francis Michelle Amador. The department issued Amador a notice to cease and desist for practicing massage therapy without a license and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrested Amador for practicing massage therapy without a license and for Possession of a Controlled Substance. The department also issued Angels of Palm Beach a notice to cease and desist for operating a massage establishment without a license.

The department has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:

• Consumers are encouraged to use the department’s website www.flhealthsource.gov where they can conveniently view the license information of their health care practitioner.
• Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form on the Florida Department of Health’s Web site, calling 1-877-HALT-ULA, or emailing HALTULA@flhealth.gov.

The department’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations. The ULA Unit 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 health care 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 http://www.flhealthsource.gov for additional information about MQA.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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