Owner of Milton medical spa pleads guilty to injecting unapproved botulinum toxin

"The owner of the Milton medical spa that was linked to at least 14 botulism cases this summer pleaded guilty to injecting clients with unapproved botulinum toxin, federal prosecutors said. Rodrigo de Medeiros Siqueira, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of misbranding of a drug after shipment in interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office said."

"Prosecutors allege that Medeiros Siqueira, who owns Rodrigo Beauty, falsely represented to clients that he was a licensed medical professional despite not being licensed to prescribe drugs or perform injections. In Massachusetts, medical spa procedures, including injections of wrinkle-relaxing botulinum toxins, have to be administered by a health care professional, or under the supervision or direction of one. Aestheticians are not medical professionals."

"Medeiros Siqueira also allegedly misrepresented the source of the botulinum toxin products he was injecting into his clients, prosecutors said. Prosecutors allege the unapproved botulinum toxin was from illegitimate sources outside the United States. In May, prosecutors said numerous clients were diagnosed with botulism, allegedly from the unapproved botulinum toxin that Medeiros Siqueira injected. At the time, the Massachusetts Department of Health reported on the growing cluster of causes on the South Shore."

Rodrigo de Medeiros Siqueira pleaded guilty to one count of misbranding a drug after shipment in interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead. He owns Rodrigo Beauty, a Milton medical spa, and allegedly falsely represented that he was a licensed medical professional despite lacking authority to prescribe drugs or perform injections. Prosecutors allege he injected clients with unapproved botulinum toxin sourced from illegitimate suppliers outside the United States. At least 14 botulism cases were linked to the spa this summer, and numerous clients were diagnosed. Sentencing has not been scheduled; he faces up to three years imprisonment, one year supervised release, and significant fines.

Read at Boston.com