How a woman posing as nurse made $1 million from stomach-churning fraud

A Massachusetts woman has been accused of pocketing $1 million by administering fake injections while posing as a nurse.

Glamorous beautician Rebecca Fadanelli, 38, of Stoughton, owner of two spas in South Easton and Randolph, allegedly began offering illegal services in March 2021 after smuggling counterfeit medications into the US.

Since then, she has completed “approximately 1,631 Botox appointments, totaling $522,869 in client payments, and 1,085 filler appointments, totaling $410,545 in client payments,” according to federal prosecutors.

Fadanelli was arrested Friday for illegally smuggling goods into the U.S., selling or furnishing a counterfeit drug and selling or furnishing a counterfeit device.

The glamorous beautician, who owns two spas in South Easton and Randolph, also posed as a nurse for her clients as she collected just $1 million for her allegedly illegal services. Pictured: Inside of Fadanelli’s Skin Beaute Med Spa

Fadanelli was not licensed or certified when she administered thousands of illegal counterfeit Botox, Sculptra and Juvederm injections that she imported from China and Brazil, prosecutors revealed.

The spa owner is also accused of buying $50 bottles of Botox from Alibaba, a Chinese-owned online marketplace. This is much lower than the market price tag of $650.

The allegations came after one of Fadanelli’s clients tipped off investigators when she suffered an adverse lip filler reaction in 2022, including bumps in her lips and tingling.

The client, who remains unidentified, claimed she never received a copy of the prescription for the injected substance despite requesting one.

As suspicions mounted, agents investigating Fadanelli’s scheme later discovered that Homeland Security Investigations was also actively pursuing a case against the 38-year-old.

Customs and Border Protection had seized international packages sent to the “nurse” because they suspected the packages may contain illegal prescription drugs.

Investigators also say Fadanelli was caught returning from Brazil with illegal injectables at Logan Airport in Massachusetts.

Investigators then searched the esthetician’s spas, where they discovered the fake cosmetics.

The allegations came after one of Fadanelli’s clients tipped off investigators after experiencing an adverse reaction, including bumps on her lips and tingling, after receiving a lip filler injection from the disgraced esthetician in 2022.

Fadanelli was not licensed or certified when she gave thousands of illegal counterfeit Botox, Sculptra and Juvederm injections that she imported from China and Brazil, prosecutors revealed

The spa owner also faces up to 10 years in prison and another $250,000 fine on charges of knowingly selling or dispensing counterfeit drugs or devices. Pictured: at Fadnelli’s Skin Beaute Med Spa

Fadanelli later admitted to the FBI that she had indeed purchased the injectable drugs from the Chinese supplier, but did not know whether they had been approved by the FDA.

She did not enter a plea when she appeared in court Friday because she faces a 20-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine for importing goods in violation of the law.

The spa owner also faces up to 10 years in prison and an additional $250,000 fine on charges of knowingly selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug or device.

“For years, Ms. Fadanelli allegedly endangered unsuspecting patients by posing as a nurse and then administering thousands of illegal, counterfeit injections,” Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy said in a speech. press release.

“The type of deception alleged here is illegal, reckless and potentially life-threatening.”