A New York aesthetician was taken into custody on Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York. The accused is believed to have purchased counterfeit Botox from China and administered it to patients without the necessary license.
Joey Grant Luther, a 54-year-old man, faces charges of wire fraud, smuggling, and other criminal activities in connection with his medical spa, JGL Aesthetics, situated in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen. Luther is accused of purchasing and importing misbranded and counterfeit drugs, including Botox, which had not received approval from the Food and Drug Administration, according to prosecutors.
“As alleged, Joey Grant Luther, who does not possess the licensing required by New York State to perform injections of Botox, knowingly purchased counterfeit Botox from China, injected it into his clients, and represented that the counterfeit Botox that he was peddling was genuine,” U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon said in a statement .
According to Sassoon, Luther allegedly persisted in buying and administering the fake Botox, even though he was aware that his clients had become sick or experienced unusual symptoms. Prosecutors claim that Luther reassured his patients that any adverse effects were only temporary and that the Botox he used was from Allergan, the legitimate manufacturer.
“Luther’s disregard for the health of his clients put all of his victims in harm’s way and, in some cases, caused life-threating injuries,” Sassoon said.
An investigation was initiated following a patient’s complaint about experiencing various health issues after receiving a Botox injection from JGL Aesthetics. The patient reported symptoms such as double vision, heart palpitations, and weakness in the upper body. To address these concerns, the patient sought treatment at three different hospitals and was eventually diagnosed with Botulism toxin in March 2024, as stated by prosecutors.
Prosecutors have revealed that Customs and Border Protection recently intercepted several parcels bound for JGL Aesthetics. During their inspection, they discovered one particular package that contained a substantial amount of counterfeit drugs, including counterfeit Botox.
Luther was set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave on Wednesday. If found guilty, he could potentially be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
Luther’s legal representation remains uncertain at this time, leaving us without information on whether he has an attorney to advocate for him.
Last year, an investigation was launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA following reports of 19 individuals in nine states suffering from adverse effects after receiving fake Botox injections.
