Women arrested on falsified Botox, Juvederm charges

A California woman has been arrested on suspicion of selling falsified copies of AbbVie/Allergan's Botox and Juvederm products without a medical license.

Josefa Acosta (57) a resident of Palm Desert, was taken into custody last month on charges of furnishing prescription drugs without a license, after after allegedly selling counterfeit Botox to undercover Los Angeles Police Department officers.

The LAPD claims Acosta set up an online store to sell the counterfeit medicine, and also operated a clinic from her home. A search of the premises revealed Juvederm – a dermal filler – as well as syringes and other pharmaceutical products that should only be possessed by licensed medical professionals.

"In many instances counterfeit cosmetic materials have been known to cause serious adverse reactions such as infections, facial paralysis, tissue death, and blindness," it said.