September 2026 Miami-Dade complaint and arrest affidavits allege Latonya Shanice Starks performed cosmetic injections without a Florida medical license, with three patients reporting complications that required medical treatment.
Miami Court Records Detail Alleged Unlicensed Cosmetic Injections
On September 2, 2026, Latonya Shanice Starks was arrested in Miami-Dade County and charged in two cases with three second-degree felony counts of unlicensed practice of a health care profession causing serious injury. Complaint and arrest affidavits allege that two women received hip and buttock injections involving a substance represented as Sculptra, while a third woman received abdominal injections that allegedly involved Lemon Bottle, described in the filing as a foreign fat-dissolving substance. For Med Spa and aesthetic operators, the cases directly involve injector licensure, representations about injectable products, and patient safety.
Affidavits Detail Alleged Unlicensed Injections Involving Sculptra and Lemon Bottle
Two September 2026 Miami-Dade complaint and arrest affidavits describe separate investigations involving three women who reported receiving cosmetic injections at a Miami business operating as Lori Dior.
The filings allege Starks was not licensed to practice medicine in Florida and connect the procedures to two criminal cases:
- Case No. F26017582: Two second-degree felony counts of unlicensed practice of a health care profession causing serious injury involving two women who reported hip and buttock injections with an unknown substance represented as Sculptra.
- Case No. F26017629: One second-degree felony count of the same offense involving a third woman who reported abdominal fat-loss injections that allegedly involved Lemon Bottle after she believed she was consenting to Sculptra 150.
The affidavits also detail several investigative findings:
- Patient Injuries: The women reported abscesses, pain, scarring, repeated drainage procedures and, in one case, repeated hospital treatment over approximately three months.
- Identification Evidence: The woman in Case No. F26017629 identified Starks in a photo lineup and provided video that investigators said showed Starks administering injections. In Case No. F26017582, the two women identified Starks as the injector, while Starks told investigators an RN named Kate performed the procedures.
- Digital Evidence: Investigators reported Instagram records showing Starks discussing injections and teaching or performing liquid BBL procedures.
- Search Findings: Investigators reported recovering Sculptra-labeled materials, needles or syringes, a sharps container, injectable substances, and other medical or cosmetic supplies after Starks’ arrest.
The affidavit in Case No. F26017629 also states that investigators learned Starks had previously received a Georgia cease-and-desist order for what the filing describes as similar operations. Starks has entered written pleas of not guilty in both injection-related cases, and the allegations remain pending in Miami-Dade County court.
Source: Miami-Dade Court Records
According to the complaint and arrest affidavits filed in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court in Case Nos. F26017629 and F26017582, investigators allege Starks performed unlicensed cosmetic injections associated with injuries reported by three women. The filings also detail licensing checks, patient statements, identification evidence, and materials recovered during the investigations.
Compliance Context in the Miami Unlicensed Injectables Case
The Miami cases center on allegations that cosmetic injections were performed without the required Florida medical licensure and that three women later required medical treatment. The affidavits describe substances represented as Sculptra or allegedly involving Lemon Bottle, which Case No. F26017629 describes as a foreign fat-dissolving substance not approved by the FDA.
Florida Statute § 456.065 prohibits practicing or delivering health care services without an active, valid license. Unlicensed practice resulting in serious bodily injury is a second-degree felony. The affidavits list the three injection-related counts under this provision.
For Med Spa operators, the allegations involve several core compliance areas:
- Practitioner Licensure: Whether the person performing injectable procedures holds the required license
- Treatment Responsibility: Documentation of who performs and is responsible for injectable treatments
- Product Representation: How injectable products are identified and described to patients
- Product Sourcing: Verification of injectable product identity and source before use
The Miami affidavits connect alleged unlicensed injections, disputed product representations, and patient injuries involving three women.
At the federal level, the FDA has separately addressed LemonBottle Ampoule Solution in enforcement involving unapproved fat-dissolving injections. In a March 2025 warning letter, the FDA identified LemonBottle Ampoule Solution as an unapproved new drug and stated that no FDA-approved application was in effect. The letter also stated that injectable drug products can pose risks of serious harm because they bypass some of the body’s defenses against toxins and microorganisms.
The case sits alongside other enforcement actions involving cosmetic medical services. A Port St. Lucie backyard Med Spa case involved licensure and treatment-setting allegations, while a Houston Med Spa lip-injection licensing case centered on whether the person administering injections held the required credentials.
Practical Implications for Med Spa and Aesthetic Injectable Services
- Confirm the identity, labeling, source, and regulatory status of injectable products before administering them.
- Verify that every person performing cosmetic injections holds the license and authority required for the procedure.
- Document who evaluates the patient, performs the injection, and assumes clinical responsibility for the treatment.
- Match patient consent forms, treatment records, and advertising to the product and procedure actually being provided.
- Maintain clear protocols for recognizing adverse reactions, arranging follow-up care, and documenting complications after injectable treatments.
What to Watch Next
The two injection-related cases remain pending in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, where Starks has entered written pleas of not guilty. Further court filings may clarify how prosecutors proceed with the three unlicensed-practice charges and whether additional evidence or regulatory actions enter the public record.
About Spakinect
Spakinect provides compliance infrastructure and telehealth-supported supervision solutions for medical aesthetic practices. For additional information, see our website.
Image Attribution: “Dade County Courthouse” by Averette, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0.
