Joey Luther sent a message to his supplier on the side effects of injections. “Do you know how much money I lost?” He wrote, according to a criminal lawsuit.
An aesthetic of New York was arrested on Wednesday and accused of illegally injection to fake botox clients introduced by China and other Asian countries, the US prosecutor’s office said in the southern district of New York.
Joey Grant Luther, 54, has aesthetics and showed his certifications in his office but according to press release and criminal lawsuit Prosecutors were posted online, he had no permission to grant botox.
He allegedly made illegal injections on his medical spa medical in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in Manhattan.
“The state of New York requires medical permit to inject botox,” a special agent from the United States Criminal and Drug Administration Office said in a criminal lawsuit. “Luther does not have the required medical permit in the state of New York to prescribe medicines. The New York State Ministry of Education has confirmed that Luther has not been allowed to practice the profession of nursing, medicine or as an assistant physician. “
Man faces multiple categories for fake botox injections
Luther’s accusations and their maximum penalties are:
- 1 category of wire fraud – 20 years in prison
- 1 smuggling category – 20 years in prison
- 1 category for possession of fake drugs for sale and distribution – 10 years in prison
- 1 Count of taking incorrect drugs in transnational trade and delivery or proposed delivery – 3 years in prison
- 1 category of distribution of an illegal drug while being held for sale – 1 year in prison
A lawyer who represents Luther did not immediately respond to USA Today’s requests for commentary on Thursday.
Customers reported bad side effects after false Botox injections
Luther headed his own medical spa called JGL Aesthetics from January 2021 to July 2024, according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities believe that he has begun to inject customers with a fake botox around April 2023 and continued to do so until July 2024, the complaint said.
According to the criminal complaint, Luther’s company JGL Aesthetics had a website but did not advertise all the services he offered.
On the contrary, the services were noted on a iPad that customers could see. His employees also sent messages about the services offered to customers and some services were advertised on social media, the complaint said.
According to a menu screenshot of the menu in the criminal lawsuit, Luther offered services such as a botox for the face and armpits, fillers, laser services, body sculpture and laser hair removal.
According to the complaint, between March 2024 and April 2024, several clients reported the following side effects:
- Lazy eyes
- Double vision
- Fallen eyelids
- Headaches
- Difficulty swallowing
Luther knew that injections caused negative side effects, according to the criminal complaint, and some clients had to undergo magnetic resonance imaging.
At least one customer was diagnosed BotulismA “rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the nerves of the body” that causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis and sometimes death, according to control centers for diseases.
When customers told Luther what happened, he told them that their symptoms would go through and said that botox was legal.
Man told the supplier fake botox to “fix it”
Luther sent a message to his supplier in April 2024 and said his clients suffered negative side effects. He said he would continue to order from them, but the supplier had to “correct” it.
Also wrote “”[y]You sold me bad botox and my clients were in the hospital. I had to pay their bills and try to save my reputation. . . . Do you know how much money I lost? You can send me 41 bottles and I will make another order. But I will never make another order with you until I get these 41 bottles, “according to the complaint.
Prosecutors reported in the press release that none of the fake botox involved had been approved for sale or distribution in the US by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Luther’s indifference to the health of his customers has jeopardized all his victims and, in some cases, has threatened to life in injuries,” US prosecutor Danielle R. Sassoon said in a press release.
Saleen Martin is a reporter in the USA Today team. It’s from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleenmartin her or email her sdmartin@usatody.com.
