Latest news with #RosaMena
New York Post
11-07-2025
- New York Post
Florida scammer posing as doctor gave Botox injections in backyard shed, causing woman to suffer facial paralysis: cops
A Florida fraudster allegedly posed as a doctor and administered Botox injections out of her shady backyard 'med spa' shed – leaving one patient who paid more than $300 with facial paralysis. 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.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- USA Today
Woman accused of giving illegal Botox injections in Florida backyard
A Florida woman was arrested this week after police accused her of running an illegal med spa out of her backyard and giving one victim a "botched" Botox injection. Rosa Mena, 50, was arrested by Port St. Lucie on Wednesday, July 9, on charges of aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability, practicing medicine without an active license, fraud and the use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, police said in a statement on Wednesday, July 9. Police, along with several other agencies, including the Florida Department of Health, launched an investigation into Mena after a woman she allegedly injected with Botox in May said she suffered facial paralysis. According to police, the victim was refunded $325 for the experience before being encouraged by Mena to return to the backyard shed where she performed procedures for an injection she claimed would "reverse" the symptom. Still suffering from paralysis, the victim asked to see Mena's license and certifications, which she allegedly was unable to produce. She then attempted to "put the victim's mind at ease by telling her she was a doctor from the Dominican Republic, dismissing her concerns," according to police. What did police find when they searched Rosa Mena's home? When police executed a search warrant at Mena's residence, they discovered "medical beds, medications, vials, needles, fat sculpting machines, PRP injections, micro-needling equipment, laser hair removal equipment, laser lipo machines, massage equipment, facial equipment, injectable devices for fillers and Botox," among other medical equipment, in her possesion, according to the statement. Sgt. Dominick Mesiti told Treasure Coast Newspapers, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the victim has since consulted with a licensed doctor, who was unable to determine if the paralysis is permanent. Mena was placed in the St. Lucie County Jail. As of July 10, her bond amount was not immediately available. "We want to remind the public to research the facility and individual prior to performing procedures," the police department said in a statement. "Additionally, in order to perform injectable procedures like Botox, it needs to be performed by a licensed professional. Your safety is our priority!"
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Florida woman's decision to get Botox in grubby garden shed ends in DISFIGUREMENT
A Florida woman was left with facial paralysis after receiving Botox injections at an illegal spa operating out of a backyard shed, according to police. In May, an unidentified woman contacted the Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) with concerns about a medical treatment she had recently received from a woman named Rosa Mena, who was allegedly running a covert spa out of a backyard shed, according to a statement posted by the department on Facebook. The victim claimed the procedure left her with lasting facial paralysis - raising alarming suspicions that the makeshift med salon was operating without a license. A multi-agency investigation into the woman's claims uncovered an 'overwhelming amount of evidence,' ultimately leading to the arrest of 50-year-old Rosa Mena on Thursday. 'We want to remind the public to research the facility and individual prior to performing procedures,' the department wrote to the post. 'In order to perform injectable procedures like Botox, it needs to be performed by a licensed professional.' On May 17, encouraged by coworkers' recommendations, the victim visited Rosa's Miracle Hand and Spa, hoping for Botox injections, CBS 12 News reported. The woman was then led by Mena into an outdoor shed, allegedly outfitted to resemble a legitimate medical spa - complete with injectable supplies and a CoolSculpting machine visible inside. After receiving a staggering 62 units of Botox, the victim paid Mena $325 and left - unaware that those injections could potentially alter the course of her life forever. While the number of units needed varies by individual, professionals typically recommend 15 to 30 units for horizontal forehead lines and up to 40 units for '11 lines' - or glabellar lines - between the eyes, according to Healthline. According to the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, the average cost per unit of Botox ranges from $10 to $30. A typical treatment involves 20 to 40 units, which translates to a total cost between $325 and $600. Soon after the bizarre backyard session, the woman began suffering partial facial paralysis. Worried, she returned to Mena's spa seeking a follow-up treatment. During the follow-up visit, Mena injected the woman with a B-vitamin complex before sending her on her way - but the woman's symptoms only worsened, according to the department's statement. By this point, the alleged victim had no choice but to confront Mena, who quickly refunded her hundreds of dollars and urged her to come back for more vitamin injections - claiming they would 'reverse' the damage. As her symptoms only persisted with no relief, she demanded Mena's credentials and proof of qualifications to perform such a risky procedure. Mena never provided any legitimate records, and instead presented a clearly forged phlebotomy certificate, according to the police department. Alarmed by the suspicious credentials, the victim contacted the issuing agency - and soon discovered the license had expired in February 2024. When confronted with the expired license, Mena brushed off the woman's concerns, insisting instead that she was a doctor in the Dominican Republic. Ultimately, the victim contacted the Port St. Lucie Police Department, triggering a months-long investigation that brought together multiple agencies - PSLPD, Code Enforcement, the Building Department, Business Tax Division and the Florida Department of Health. On July 9, authorities executed a search warrant at Mena's residence, uncovering a trove of evidence that corroborated the victim's claims, according to police. Neighbors described as a chaotic scene - with several police cars swarming the area and loudspeaker announcements blaring in both English and Spanish, CBS 12 reported. Once inside, authorities discovered medical beds, fat-sculpting machines, laser hair removal and liposuction equipment, as well as injection devices used for both fillers and Botox. The residence also contained needles, vials, and prescription medications - further evidence of unlicensed medical procedures taking place inside, the department said. Mena's Instagram account was also uncovered, which was filled with photos of her performing various procedures on other individuals - though, so far, no additional victims have come forward, according to police. With clear evidence of unlicensed and unregulated medical treatments being performed out of the backyard shed, Mena was taken into custody. 'There was probably like 10, 15 police cars and some wagon - I didn't know what that was for,' neighbor John Jones told the CBS 12, recalling the scene. 'Then all of a sudden, I see a girl come out in handcuffs,' he added. Mena is now facing several felony charges, including three counts of aggravated battery causing bodily harm, three counts of practicing medicine without an active license and one count of fraud-swindle involving property valued under $20,000. She is also charged with one count of fraud-swindle involving property valued at $300 and one count of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. On Thursday morning, Mena appeared in court and was held on a $95,000 bond, according to WPTV News. She is currently being held at the St. Lucie County Jail.
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Botox treatment in backyard shed left woman with paralyzed face, FL police say
A woman experiencing facial paralysis after getting Botox discovered her 'doctor' was practicing medicine without a license, according to investigators in Florida. Among the red flags: The treatments happened in a backyard shed decked out to look like a 'med spa,' the Port St. Lucie Police Department said in a Wednesday, July 9, news release. The victim told police 'she experienced facial paralysis' after visiting the shed in May to get Botox injections from 50-year-old Rosa Mena, police said. 'After Mena was confronted about the victim's injuries, she refunded the $325 after the paralysis persisted; however, Mena had the victim return to inject her again, but this time with vitamins to 'reverse' the effects,' police said. 'Still experiencing paralysis, the victim requested to see Mena's medical license and supporting certificates, which she never produced. Instead, she provided a censored/altered certificate of Phlebotomy (drawing blood for tests). ... The victim told detectives she contacted the issuing agency where she learned it had expired in February of 2024.' When confronted, Mena dismissed the patient's concerns and reported she had previously been a doctor in the Dominican Republic, officials said. A multi-agency investigation resulted in a warrant to search the property, leading to 'an overwhelming amount of evidence to support the victim's allegations,' including Botox, fat-sculpting machines, laser hair removal equipment and liposuction equipment. Mena was arrested and charged with: Three counts of aggravated battery causing bodily harmThree counts of health safety — practicing medicine without an active licenseFraud — swindle/obtain property $300 or moreFraud — swindle/obtain property under $20,000Use of two-way communication device to facilitate a felony Port St. Lucie is about a 110-mile drive north from Miami.
