MA Spa Owner Charged With Giving Thousands Of Illegal Injections

STOUGHTON, MA — A Massachusetts spa owner is facing charges after being accused of smuggling goods into the United States, selling and dispensing counterfeit drugs and devices, and performing thousands of illegal counterfeit injections, officials said Friday.

Rebecca Fadanelli, 38, of Stoughton was arrested Friday morning and was scheduled to appear in federal court in Worcester at 1 p.m., according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts.

Since March 2021, Fadanelli — who owns the Skin Beaute Med Spa with locations in Randolph and South Easton — has been importing counterfeit Botox, Sculptra and Juvederm from China and Brazil and performing injections of counterfeit drugs and devices for which she received over $900,000 in client payments, charging documents said.

Officials further allege that Fadanelli "consistently represented to clients and employees that she is a nurse" when she is actually an aesthetician and is not licensed nor certified to dispense or administer prescription drugs or devices.

According to payment records, from approximately March 2021 through March 2024, Fadanelli completed approximately 1,631 Botox appointments, totaling $522,869 in client payments, and 1,085 filler appointments, totaling $410,545 in client payments, officials said.

"For years, Ms. Fadanelli allegedly put unsuspecting patients at risk by representing herself to be a nurse and then administering thousands of illegal, counterfeit injections," Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in part Friday. "Today’s arrest underscores our commitment to protecting the public from fraudulent and dangerous practices in the medical and cosmetic fields."

The charge of importing merchandise contrary to law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, according to officials. The charges of knowingly selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug or counterfeit device each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.