Recruited Clients From Corona Salon
Two allegedly fake plastic surgeons were busted by law enforcement agents last week for allegedly recruiting female customers at a Corona beauty parlor and performing cosmetic procedures on them which left them permanently disfigured, it was announced.
The suspects were identified by Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman as Carlos Arango and William Ordonez, who are not licensed doctors in the states of New York and Connecticut. A licensed physician, Marlon Castillo, was also booked in the case.
Castillo and Arango were arraigned last Wednesday morning, Apr. 18, in Queens County Criminal Court before Justice Lenora Gerald. Castillo was arrested on Apr. 12 in Stamford, Conn. and Arango was arrested on Apr. 11 in Palm, Beach Fla.. Both waived extradition and were returned to New York to face these charges.
Ordonez, the third individual charged in the Attorney General’s complaint unsealed last Wednesday, remains at large.
Each of the suspects were charged with scheme to defraud in the first degree (a class E felony), unauthorized practice of a profession (a class E felony) and assault in the second degree (a class D felony), among other charges. If convicted, each suspect faces up to seven years behind bars.
Arango and Castillo were ordered held on $100,000 bail each; Gerald also ordered them to surrender their passports.
“Performing surgery without a license is a very serious crime in New York, and we will ensure that the perpetrators of these horrific actions are brought to justice. To prey on and profit off of unsuspecting patients is unconscionable,” Schneiderman said. “We will prosecute these criminals and hold them accountable for their heinous crimes.”
According to the charges, the scheme involved multiple patients who were solicited from the Bellisima Full Service Spa located at 51- 03 108th St. in Corona and underwent cosmetic surgery between approximately April 2011 and December 2011.
Arango and Ordonez reportedly pretended to be doctors, although neither is a licensed physician. After recruiting patients from Bellisima Spa, Arango and Ordonez arranged for the patients to have surgery in New York or to be transported to Connecticut for surgery.
It is further alleged that they unlawfully practiced medicine without a license by performing liposuction and fat transfers on women, while Castillo periodically entered and exited the room.
Reportedly, the defendants performed these surgical procedures without general anesthesia.
According to the felony complaint, Arango and Ordonez allegedly performed two surgical procedures at OnShape Medical Spa, located at 60 Strawberry Hill Ave. in Stamford, Conn.
A third patient, also recruited from Bellisima Spa, underwent surgery at Riosa Surgical Spa, located at 211 West 106th St. in Manhattan.
Based on information obtained during their investigation, authorities determined that neither Arango and Ordonez are licensed physicians, nurses nor physicians assistants in either New York or Connecticuts.
The complaint further alleges that after their surgeries, the patients were directed to receive post-operative “massages” at Bellisima Spa. Patients operated on by Ordonez and Arango reported pain and discomfort and, in some cases, permanent disfigurement.
Anyone who believes they are a victim of this type of crime or if you have additional information regarding this matter are advised to contact the Attorney General’s office at 1- 212-416-8356.
Spanish-speaking personnel will be available for individuals who do not speak English.
Schneiderman thanked the Stamford, Conn. Police Department and the Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office for their assistance. The Attorney General also thanked the New York State Department of Education and the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health.
The investigation was handled by Investigator Sylvia Rivera and Analyst Justin Tatham, under Supervising Investigator Michael Ward, Deputy Chief of Investigations John Mc- Manus, Deputy Chief Investigator John Reidy and Chief Dominick Zarella.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Arielle Singer and Joseph D’Arrigo, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Swenton, Bureau Chief Gail Heatherly, and Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Nancy Hoppock.
It was noted that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
