Woman Faked Nurse Credentials to Inject Fake Botox, Say Prosecutors

On November 1, 2024, federal authorities charged 38-year-old Rebecca Fadanelli, owner of Skin Beaute Med Spa in Randolph and South Easton, Massachusetts, with illegally importing counterfeit cosmetic products and administering them without proper medical credentials. The charges include one count each of illegally importing merchandise contrary to law, selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug, and selling or dispensing a counterfeit device. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, since March 2021, Fadanelli allegedly imported counterfeit Botox, Sculptra, and Juvederm from China and Brazil, performing thousands of injections and receiving over $900,000 in client payments. Despite representing herself as a nurse, Fadanelli is an aesthetician without the necessary licenses to administer prescription drugs or devices. Payment records indicate that between March 2021 and March 2024, she conducted approximately 1,631 Botox appointments, totaling $522,869, and 1,085 filler appointments, totaling $410,545. The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasizes that these are allegations, and Fadanelli is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. She was scheduled to appear in federal court in Worcester on November 1, 2024.

Fadanelli isn’t the only person in recent years to be charged with injecting fake products. In 2019, Susan Ann Tancreto, a 60-year-old resident of Shasta County, California, was charged with multiple felonies for posing as a nurse and administering unauthorized Botox and filler treatments. Operating primarily out of Bellisima Salon & Day Spa in Redding, Tancreto falsely claimed to be a nurse affiliated with Dr. Larry Richard Pyle, a local physician. Investigations revealed that she had no medical or nursing licenses and had never held such credentials. Despite this, she procured prescription-only Botox from Dr. Pyle and administered it to clients without proper medical oversight. Some victims suffered severe injuries and significant facial deformities, necessitating long-term medical treatment. One individual discovered that Tancreto had injected silicone into her lips, leading to potential lifelong complications.

In recent years, the cosmetic industry has witnessed alarming incidents involving unlicensed individuals administering counterfeit Botox injections, leading to severe health consequences for unsuspecting clients. A notable case involves Susan Ann Tancreto, a Northern California woman accused of posing as a nurse and providing unauthorized Botox treatments at a Redding spa and other locations. According to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, Tancreto lacked the necessary medical licenses to administer such treatments, resulting in felony charges against her.

The repercussions of receiving counterfeit Botox from unqualified practitioners are profound. Patients have reported adverse effects such as blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, and breathing issues. In some instances, individuals have been hospitalized due to severe reactions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 22 cases of botulism-like symptoms were linked to counterfeit Botox injections administered by unlicensed providers in non-medical settings across 11 states, including California.

The proliferation of counterfeit Botox poses significant health risks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings about unsafe, counterfeit versions of Botox found in several states. These products, often sourced from unlicensed suppliers, may be contaminated, improperly stored, or ineffective, leading to serious health complications.

To safeguard against such risks, consumers are advised to seek cosmetic treatments only from licensed and qualified medical professionals. Authentic Botox is manufactured by Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, and should be administered in a medical setting by trained practitioners. The FDA-approved product lists the active ingredient as “OnabotulinumtoxinA” on the outer carton vial. Consumers should be cautious of products labeled differently or offered at significantly lower prices, as these may be counterfeit.

The case of Susan Ann Tancreto underscores the importance of verifying the credentials of individuals offering medical treatments. Engaging with unlicensed practitioners not only violates legal standards but also endangers public health. Health officials emphasize the necessity of receiving cosmetic injections from accredited sources to prevent adverse health outcomes.

In conclusion, the administration of counterfeit Botox by unlicensed individuals presents a serious public health concern. Consumers must exercise due diligence in selecting qualified medical professionals for cosmetic procedures to ensure safety and efficacy. Regulatory bodies continue to monitor and address these issues to protect public health.