LOS ANGELES (28 March 2008)An Argentine doctor who served prison time for giving illegal anti-wrinkle injections to wealthy and celebrity clients has been arrested and could face deportation, immigration officials said Thursday.
Daniel Tomas Fuente Serrano, who was jailed after pleading guilty in 2006 to conspiracy, smuggling and use of unapproved drugs, could forfeit his permanent residency in the United States because of the crimes, Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice said.
“If you’re here as a guest of this country, and you’re convicted of certain types of crime, you may lose that privilege,” she said.
Serrano finished his prison sentence earlier this month, but authorities could not arrest him until Wednesday because his conviction was under seal, Kice said.
He was taken into custody at his Beverly Hills home.
No phone listing was available for Serrano. It was unclear if he had retained an attorney.
Kice did now know when his first immigration hearing would be held.
Serrano previously received an 18-month prison sentence, which was later reduced by three months.
Prosecutors said he gave the illegal injections at various places, including parties where as many as 30 wealthy clients sipped cocktails and were injected with silicone smuggled into the U.S.
Lionel Richie, his ex-wife, Diane, and Shawn King, the wife of CNN talk-show host Larry King were other clients, according to court papers.
Serrano wasn’t licensed to practice in this country, prosecutors said.
He was accused of charging thousands of dollars for injections of substances consistent with industrial grade silicone used to lubricate auto parts, as well as medical grade silicone, which is used for some eye surgeries but is not approved as wrinkle filler, according to court papers.
Some of Serrano’s clients developed problems after the injections, court papers state.
Clients claimed they were unaware that Serrano was not licensed in California.
Serrano’s arrest by immigration officials was initially reported by TMZ.com.