While posing as a nurse, a Massachusetts woman administered thousands of doses of phony Botox and other fillers that had been illegally smuggled into the US.
Rebecca Fadanelli, 38, of Stoughton, was arrested on Friday for illegally smuggling goods into the US, sale or dispensing a counterfeit drug and sale or dispensing of a counterfeit device.
The glamourous aesthetician, who owns two spas in South Easton and Randolph, presented herself as a nurse to her clients when she collected just shy of $1 million for her alleged illegal services.
Beginning in March 2021, Fadanelli ‘completed approximately 1,631 Botox appointments, totaling $522,869 in client payments, and 1,085 filler appointments, totaling $410,545 in client payments,’ federal prosecutors said.
Rebecca Fadanelli, 38, of Stoughton, was arrested on Friday for illegally smuggling goods into the US, sale or dispensing a counterfeit drug and sale or dispensing of a counterfeit device.
The glamourous aesthetician, who owns two spas in South Easton and Randolph, also posed herself as nurse to her clients when she collected just shy of $1 million for her alleged illegal services. Pictured: Inside of Fadanelli’s Skin Beaute Med Spa
Fadanelli was not licensed or certified when she gave thousands of illegal counterfeit Botox, Sculptra, and Juvederm injections which she imported from China and Brazil, prosecutors revealed
Fadanelli was not licensed or certified when she gave thousands of illegal counterfeit Botox, Sculptra, and Juvederm injections which she imported from China and Brazil, prosecutors revealed.
The spa owner is also accused of purchasing vials of Botox for $50 from Alibaba – a Chinese-owned online marketplace – for much lower than the market price tag of $650.
The accusations came after one of Fadanelli’s clients tipped off investigators following an adverse reaction which included bumps in her lips and tingling after she received a lip filler injection from disgraced beautician in 2022.
The client, who remains unidentified, alleges she never received a copy of the prescription for the substance that was injected into her despite asking for it.
With suspicions then mounting, agents looking into Fadanelli’s scheme later discovered that Homeland Security Investigations were also actively pursuing a case against the 38-year-old.
Customs and Border Control had seized international parcels shipped to the ‘nurse’ due to suspicions the packages may contain illegal prescription drugs.
Investigators also say Fadanelli was caught returning from Brazil with illegal injectables at Massachusetts-based Logan Airport.
Investigators then searched the beautician’s spas where they uncovered the fake cosmetics.
The accusations came after one of Fadanelli’s clients tipped off investigators following an adverse reaction which included bumps in her lips and tingling after she received a lip filler injection from disgraced beautician in 2022.
The spa owner also faces up to 10 years in prison and another fine of $250,000 for charges of knowingly selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug or device. Pictured: Inside Fadnelli’s Skin Beaute Med Spa
Fadanelli later admitted to the Feds she did in fact purchase the injectable drugs from the Chinese supplier but didn’t know if they were FDA-approved.
She did not enter a plea when she appeared in court on Friday as she faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the charge of importing merchandise contrary to law.
The spa owner also faces up to 10 years in prison and another fine of $250,000 for charges of knowingly selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug or device.
‘For years, Ms. Fadanelli allegedly put unsuspecting patients at risk by representing herself to be a nurse and then administering thousands of illegal, counterfeit injections,’ acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy said in a press release.
‘The type of deception alleged here is illegal, reckless and potentially life-threatening.’
