Pair Accused Of Carrying Out Illegal Plastic Surgeries In NYC

JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS – A Queens physician could face up to 25 years in prison for allegedly performing more than 60 illegal surgeries with an unlicensed plastic surgeon – including one that left a patient permanently disfigured.

Nicholas Sewell, 74, of Jackson Heights, and Brad Jacobs, 56, of Westbury, Long Island, were arrested Thursday and accused of engaging in a four-year scheme to illegally perform the plastic surgeries years after Jacobs lost his New York medical license.

He and Sewell, a licensed physician, conned patients undergoing costly cosmetic procedures by claiming Jacobs was still licensed to practice medicine, according to Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.

Schneiderman said his investigation found that from September 2012 to June 2016, Jacobs and Sewell performed the cosmetic surgeries – each averaging between $8,000 and $10,000 – on more than 60 patients, along with scores of other medical procedures involving Botox and injectables. Many of those defrauded by the two were either Jacobs' former patients or had been referred to him by one, the attorney general said.

“Practicing medicine without a license jeopardizes the lives of New Yorkers, undermines our health care system, and diminishes the work of licensed doctors committed to their patients’ safety and health," Schneiderman said.

Jacobs, who got his license in 1988, practiced medicine until June 2007, when his business was shut down and license suspended by the New York Department of Health. He was later charged with 29 counts of Professional Medical Misconduct, including gross negligence, incompetence and moral unfitness related to his cosmetic surgeries.

In the revocation hearing that September, Jacobs surrendered his license to practice medicine and remains unlicensed.

Sewell, a licensed physician in New York since 1982, obtained an operating room at Allure Plastic Surgery in Manhattan in 2011. The two began seeing patients and performing cosmetic procedures immediately after, Schneiderman said.

Sewell and Jacobs had patients pay for their surgeries with cash or checks made out to one of Sewell's relatives to keep the illegal operation under wraps, Schneiderman said. The checks were deposited into an account under the relative's name that was controlled by Sewell, who would then transfer the money to an account under the name of Jacob's relative that was controlled by Jacobs. T

he two are accused of transferring nearly $50,000 between the accounts.

They were arraigned in New York County Supreme Court on Nov. 16 on assault charges, eight counts of grand larceny, nine counts each of unauthorized practice of a profession, two counts of scheming to defraud in the and one count of money laundering. Each faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Sewell is currently in custody on $2 million bond or $2 million cash bail and Jacobs is currently in custody on $4 million bond or $2 million cash bail. Both defendants were ordered to surrender their passports.

Lead image via Shutterstock.