By Jeremy Walsh
William Ramirez-Concepcion, 47, was arraigned Jan. 15 in Queens Criminal Court on charges of assault, unauthorized practice of a profession, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Ramirez-Concepcion was ordered held on $25,000 bail. His next court date is Jan. 25.”When unlicensed people hold themselves out to be licensed professionals, people get hurt,” said state Education Department Commissioner Richard Mills, whose Office of Professional Discipline assisted in the investigation.The incident began on Jan. 21, 2006, when a 46-year-old Manhattan man came to Ramirez-Concpecion's 110th Street apartment seeking cosmetic treatments, the DA said. The defendant told the man he could correct the sunken appearance of his face by injecting a substance, authorities said.Several days after the procedure, the man began experiencing pain, facial swelling and hard lumps under his skin, Brown said.The man underwent surgery in June 2007 to have the substance removed. It turned out to be silicone, the DA said.Authorities began investigating Ramirez-Concepcion in November 2007, when a state Education Department investigator posing as a patient visited his medical office on 85th Street. Ramirez-Concepcion introduced himself as “Dr. Ramirez” and told the investigator he could perform injections on the inspector's lips to increase their fullness, the DA said.Ramirez-Concepcion told the investigator the procedure would cost $1,000 at his office or $400 at his apartment, authorities said.Detectives from the DA's office served a search warrant at Ramirez-Concepcion's apartment on Jan. 10, recovering medical books, receipts for medical supplies, examination table paper and disposable medical gowns, Brown said.Authorities are still investigating the case and asked anyone else treated by Ramirez-Concepcion to come forward.Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
