Suspected Phony Dentists Yanked From Miami Bus

MIAMI, FL — As if going to the dentist wasn't traumatic enough, a Miami couple has been charged with practicing dentistry without a license — on a bus.

Unbeknownst to forty-four-year-old Victor Bernal and 37-year-old Daniela Sulbaran Gonzalez, their last patients of the day on Nov. 15 weren't really there for tooth extractions and cleanings.

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In reality, they were undercover Miami-Dade police detectives and the real reason for their visit was to yank out a couple of alleged phony dental professionals.

"After several months of investigation, undercover operatives from the Florida Department of Health and the MDPD Medical Crime Unit, posed as patients," explained Detective Argemis Colome of the Miami-Dade Police Department in announcing the arrests Thursday.

"Mr. Bernal and Ms. Sulbaran diagnosed and offered treatment to the undercover detectives," Colome said.

Bernal, of the unit block of Glen Royal Parkway, and Gonzalez, of the 4800 block of NW 79 Avenue, are both facing charges of practicing healthcare without a license. In addition, Bernal is also charged with possessing prescription drugs with the intent to sell or deliver.

Colome said investigators were acting on information from the Florida Department of Health. The bus was parked in a parking lot at 6001 NW 74th Avenue.

He added that investigators believe there may be other victims of the phony dental practice that have not yet come forward.

According to court documents, the undercover detectives met with Bernal and Sulbaran Gonzalezoutside a gated parking lot where the bus was parked.

From there, they allegedly traveled to the bus in Bernal's white Toyota SUV.

"Upon arriving at the bus, Mr. Bernal then told the undercover operatives to enter while they prepared the bus for the dental procedure," court documents said. Bernal eventually returned with a pair of blue and brown bags from his SUV.

"Mr. Bernal placed the bags at the rear of the bus, and he subsequently asked the operative to sit in the dental chair," according to court documents. "Miss Sulbaran outfitted the operative with a dental bib and she donned a protective face guard and surgical latex gloves. Miss Sulbaran then diagnosed, evaluated and offered to treat the undercover operative.

"The takedown signal was verbalized and Miss Sulbaran and Mr. Bernal were taken into custody without incident," the documents said.

Booking photos courtesy Miami-Dade Police Department