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Woman Charged with Illegally Administering Silicone Injections
Deanna M. Roberts, 46, of Sanford, Florida, has been arrested on charges that while falsely claiming to be a licensed medical practitioner, she illegally transported liquid silicone from Florida to Atlanta and caused the death of another person by injecting the liquid silicone directly into the victim’s buttocks.
According to U.S. Attorney John Horn, the indictment alleges that Roberts caused the death of another person, identified as L.H. in the indictment, by injecting her with silicone after falsely claiming she was a medical professional.
The public should be wary of individuals who use substances like silicone in ways that are not approved by the FDA, or that are administered by persons who are not properly trained or licensed, said Horn.
The FDA protects the public’s health by ensuring, among other things, that medical devices are safe and effective for their intended uses, said Robert J. West, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Miami Field Office. We are fully committed to bringing to justice those who subvert FDA’s requirements and place unsuspecting American consumers at risk of serious harm by using unapproved and unsafe devices.
Chief John F. King, Doraville Police Department, stated, It is always a tragedy when someone loses their life due to the reckless negligence of another. This death shows why there is a need for FDA oversight and highlights the dangers when the system is illegally circumvented.
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, Roberts began ordering liquid silicone from a business in Arizona in April 2004, under the guise of supplying it to a customer for use in lubricating medical equipment, despite being required to certify that it was not intended to be injected into humans.
Between April 2004 and December 2015, Roberts purchased approximately 178 gallons of liquid silicone and transported it to the Atlanta area, injecting it into the hips, buttocks, and other body parts of her customers, while falsely claiming to be a licensed medical practitioner.
The indictment alleges that Roberts injected liquid silicone into the buttocks of a victim, L.H., on November 16, 2015, causing her death, and also injected two others in October and November 2014, who did not die from the injections.
Deanna M. Roberts was arrested on May 17, 2016, and made her initial appearance on these charges in federal court in Orlando, Florida. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Doraville Police Department, and the Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney William L. McKinnon is prosecuting the case.
The underground operation of illegal injections has become more common and has threatened the health of victims, said Atlanta Police Chief George N. Turner. We will continue to work with our federal partners to combat this crime and expose perpetrators who risk the health of victims, for the sake of making a quick profit.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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