A woman from New York is said to have performed at least two dental practices without a permit and seriously injured several of her unsuspecting patients.
Yolany Y. Mejia Carranza, 55, had a 'fully functioning illegal dental office' from her house in Bay Shore, a city in Central Long Island, according to a statement by the Suffolk County police.
The police commissioner, Kevin Catalina, said reporters that the investigation in Carranza started when detectives received several tips from people who claimed that they had wounded patients.
A patient of her suffering from “serious nerve damage that led to partial facial paralysis,” said Catalina during a press conference.
Detectives are of the opinion that Carranza once also had a fake dental practice in Huntington's station, which is about 30 minutes driving from Bay Shore.
“She didn't use anesthesia, but she used a local anesthesia, but nobody received anesthesia for the complex dental procedures she did,” Catalina said. “She was a full-service dentist.”
The police say that her illegal practice has been active for eight years, adding that her customer was usually people with a low income who had no dental insurance. She accepted money for her work, the police said.
“We think she focused on the Spanish community, mostly people who had no health insurance policy and many of whom may have been illegal in the country,” Catalina said. “I think her patients were in a serious danger.”
Yolany Y. Mejia Carranza, 55, is said to have had a 'fully functioning illegal dental office'. The police said she is doing this for eight years from two different locations on Long Island, New York
Suffolk County Police Detectives took this photo of the dental office in her house in Bay Shore on the day of her arrest on Thursday
The dental office was found in this house. Neighbors who spoke with local media said the Carranza never called to do dental work
Because investigators believe that Carranza has other victims who are not yet known, Catalina promised that officers would ask no one who comes forward about their immigration status.
Carranza was arrested on Thursday at 3:15 pm in her Bay Shore house, ABC 7 reported.
During the raid of the house, the police discovered antibiotics that were ordered from abroad.
Alfredo Valle, the neighbor of Carranza, said he saw 15 police cars appear at her home, adding that he hoped that everyone who used her services is good.
Another neighbor, Steve Contreras told CBS New York that Carranza was a “normal neighbor” and never told him she was doing dental work.
Carranza is accused of three counts of unauthorized practice of a profession, a class E crime.
Class E crimes, the lowest level of crimes, have a maximum punishment of four years in prison, according to the law of New York.
Carranza has not guilty of the charges and has surrendered her passport. She will be back in court on 1 April.
The judge has instructed her to stay away from one of the patients who acts as a witness.
