A Florida woman has been arrested after police claim she was running a clandestine spa from a shed in her garden.
In May, a woman went to the Port St Lucie Police Department and told officers that she had recently been treated by a woman named Rosa Mena, who she believed was practicing without a license, according to FOX13.
She explained to authorities that she had experienced facial paralysis after after getting treatment from Mena’s backyard spa.
The woman confronted Mena about her condition and was refunded $325, police say. She was then asked to return to the clinic to receive vitamin injections that would “reverse” the effects.
The alleged victim said that her paralysis continued, so she asked to see Mena's medical license and other credentials. According to the police department, the documents provided were censored or altered certificates of phlebotomy.
Mena reportedly told the woman she had previously been a doctor in the Dominican Republic.
The woman told police she contacted the agency that issued the credentials and found they had expired in February 2024.
Police officers obtained a search warrant for Mena's shed and found evidence that they believe backs up the woman's story.
Medical beds, medications, vials, needles, fat sculpting machines, PRP injections, micro-needling equipment, laser hair removal equipment, liposuction machines, massage equipment Botox and injectable devices were all found inside the shed.
Mena was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated battery causing bodily harm, three counts of practicing medicine without an active license, one count of fraud-swindle obtain property under $20,000, one count of fraud-swindle obtain property $300, and one count of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
After the arrest, the police department issued a public warning about unlicensed clinics and technicians on its social media pages.
"We want to remind the public to research the facility and individual prior to performing procedures," the department wrote. "Additionally, in order to perform injectable procedures like Botox it needs to be performed by a licensed professional. Your safety is our priority!"
