SAN JUAN, P.R. — Rosa Betancourt-Farfán is headed to federal prison after admitting she injected an unapproved, dangerous liquid silicone into clients’ bodies for profit. The 43-year-old woman, who claimed to be a medical professional, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and one year of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Domínguez. Betancourt-Farfán pleaded guilty on May 12, 2017, after being arrested and indicted in December 2016.
The procedure, marketed as a cheap body-contouring fix for buttock and breast augmentation, involved injecting a substance not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any such use. Despite the risks, Betancourt-Farfán charged $1,200 in cash per injection, preying on clients desperate for cosmetic enhancement outside regulated medical channels. Federal authorities stress that liquid silicone, when used this way, is a misbranded and adulterated device under federal law.
One victim, injected with a full vial in both glutes, began suffering severe health complications as early as 2013—starting with breathing trouble and back pain. By 2015, her condition deteriorated sharply, landing her in the hospital with tendonitis and debilitating back spasms. The Puerto Rico Board of Health first flagged the case in May 2016 after learning of a suspect known only as ‘Rosa from Venezuela’—later confirmed as Betancourt-Farfán.
The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) took over the probe, uncovering that Betancourt-Farfán operated without medical credentials or oversight. Liquid silicone injections can cause tissue hardening, embolisms, organ damage, and even death. Yet for years, she sold false promises of beauty while putting lives at risk—all outside the bounds of legal, ethical medicine.
‘Your life is in danger if you have received any of these adulterated treatments,’ warned U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. ‘We urge people not to trust those who claim to be medical professionals and offer treatments outside of certified medical offices victimizing patients.’ Her office emphasized a zero-tolerance stance on medical fraud that endangers public health.
Justin D. Green, Special Agent in Charge at FDA-OCI’s Miami Field Office, vowed continued crackdowns: ‘Liquid silicone injected into individuals’ bodies can cause serious harm and even death, and FDA has not approved any such product for body contouring.’ The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Myriam Fernández, with support from Homeland Security Investigations. The feds are sending a clear message: illegitimate medical procedures will be treated as serious federal crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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