Local News
Authorities say over a dozen clients suffered life-threatening illnesses after receiving injections with non-FDA-approved Botox products.
A South Shore med spa owner has agreed to plead guilty to illegally injecting clients with black market Botox he got from outside the U.S., federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Rodrigo de Medeiros Siqueira, 33, of Quincy, was charged with misbranding a drug after shipment in interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said Siqueira, owner of Rodrigo Beauty Inc., administered unapproved botulinum toxin products despite not being licensed to prescribe, dispense, or inject prescription drugs.
Siqueira was first arrested and charged in October 2025 after more than a dozen cases of botulism were linked to the Milton spa, which was located on Granite Avenue.
Investigators say that in August 2022, Siqueira offered cosmetic injection procedures, including the off-market Botox injections, to clients while falsely representing himself as a licensed medical professional. Prosecutors also said he misled clients about the identity and source of the products used during treatments.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), botulism can cause serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms, including blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, and breathing complications.
“While botulinum toxin is generally safe when administered by trained medical professionals, improper dosing, administration technique, or use of non-FDA-approved products can result in severe cases of botulism,” prosecutors said in a press release.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, according to prosecutors. A plea hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
