Colombian national Juan David Acosta, 44, of Hallandale Beach, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to a year and a day for injecting silicone into victims’ bodies for cosmetic enhancement—without a medical license or FDA approval. The illegal procedures, carried out in the shadows of South Florida’s booming aesthetic underground, left victims at serious risk of permanent injury or death.
Acosta pled guilty to two counts of receipt in interstate commerce of a misbranded device and delivery for pay with intent to defraud or mislead, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 331(c) and 333(a)(2). On July 29, 2015, and again on August 9, 2015, Acosta injected polydimethylsiloxane—commonly known as silicone—into the buttocks of two victims at his residence in the Southern District of Florida. He charged thousands of dollars for each procedure, marketing them as safe and transformative.
Court records reveal Acosta never disclosed to victims that industrial-grade silicone was being injected into their bodies. The substance, when improperly administered, can migrate, cause embolisms, or trigger life-threatening immune reactions. The FDA requires strict approval for such procedures—even when performed by licensed professionals. Acosta had no such authorization and is not a licensed medical practitioner.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, condemned the acts as reckless and predatory. ‘Acosta preyed on individuals seeking to enhance their appearance, putting profits over lives,’ Ferrer stated. ‘These procedures were not just illegal—they were dangerous and deceitful.’
The investigation was a coordinated effort by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, and the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Medical Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Randy Katz prosecuted the case, unraveling a scheme rooted in deception and bodily harm.
Acosta will serve one year of supervised release following his prison term. Authorities urge anyone who may have received similar injections from unlicensed providers to seek medical evaluation immediately. The case serves as a grim warning: in the underground world of black-market beauty, the cost of vanity can be measured in pain, prison, and permanent damage.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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