Rosa Betancourt-Farfán is under federal arrest for injecting unapproved liquid silicone into patients across Puerto Rico, exploiting desperate clients seeking cosmetic enhancements. The 53-year-old woman, who allegedly posed as a nurse, is charged with introducing an adulterated device into interstate commerce, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 331(k), 333(a)(1), and 351(f)(1)(B). The procedure, often marketed as a cheap alternative to plastic surgery, carries life-threatening risks—including embolism, tissue necrosis, and death.
According to court documents filed in San Juan, Betancourt-Farfán charged victims up to $1,200 in cash for injections into their glutes, claiming the substance was safe and effective for body augmentation. One victim reported receiving a full vial in both buttocks during a session in 2013, only to suffer breathing difficulties and chronic back pain soon after. By 2015, the individual was hospitalized with severe tendonitis and muscle spasms—conditions consistent with silicone migration and systemic inflammation.
A second victim described a makeshift clinic in Bayamón, where more than ten people waited in line to receive injections labeled as “stem cells.” In reality, investigators believe the substance was unsterilized, industrial-grade liquid silicone. That patient, now suffering debilitating health complications, is undergoing medical treatment outside Puerto Rico. The FDA has confirmed it has not approved any liquid silicone product for cosmetic injection in the United States.
The case emerged in May 2016, when the Puerto Rico Board of Health contacted the FDA’s San Juan Resident Office about a complaint involving a woman known only as “Rosa from Venezuela.” That alias led agents directly to Betancourt-Farfán, who allegedly operated under the radar for years, preying on individuals who couldn’t afford legal, licensed procedures. Her arrest underscores a growing black market for underground cosmetic surgeries in the Caribbean and U.S. territories.
“If you or a person you know have been treated by the defendant, please call the Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica y Oficina de Reglamentación y Certificación de los Profesionales de la Salud at 787-765-2929, ext. 6589. Your life is in danger if you have received any of these adulterated treatments,” warned U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The FDA investigation remains active, with authorities urging silent victims to come forward before irreversible damage occurs.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Myriam Fernández. A criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt—Betancourt-Farfán is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But for those already scarred—physically and medically—the damage may be permanent.
Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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