An Indio business owner and the non-certified medical practitioner who worked for her, allegedly providing unauthorized cosmetic surgical procedures, will ask a judge next week to consider lowering their bail so they can get out of jail.
Sandra Leticia Felix Gomez and Alfonso Salvador Gomez Sotelo, both 46, were arrested last week following an Indio Police Department investigation at Gomez’s establishment, Fajas Salud y Vanidades, in the 81700 block of Highway 111.
Both defendants are charged with two counts of operating an unlicensed facility and one count each of conspiracy and mayhem — the latter allegation stemming from an apparent surgical cosmetic procedure, which wasn’t specified.
The pair were arraigned Monday with Sotelo’s spouse, co-defendant Renee Daniela Romo Ramirez, 33, who is charged with conspiracy and operating an unlicensed facility. The trio pleaded not guilty to the felony counts, after which Riverside County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Tucker scheduled a bail review hearing for May 13 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
The hearing will provide an opportunity for Gomez’s and Sotelo’s attorneys to argue motions for bail reductions. Each defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million — Gomez at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, and Sotelo at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio.
Ramirez is also being held at the Banning jail on $20,000 bail. Her attorney did not request a bail reduction hearing.
According to IPD Sgt. Abe Plata, detectives joined with investigators from the California Department of Consumer Affairs to determine whether Fajas Salud y Vanidades was providing illicit procedures to clients.
The business’ social media pages appear to list prospective tummy tucks, body-shaping and supporting devices as available, presumably handled by Sotelo.
There are also indications that facial beautification options had been offered, and in one post, Sotelo’s credentials include mention of his graduation from the University of Veracruzana in Veracruz, Mexico. In several other online posts, there appear to be multiple certificates on a wall, but the images don’t clearly depict what the documents state.
The business’ Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/ItWorkTeamYMas/.
“Investigators determined that Sotelo is not licensed to practice medicine in California,” Plata said.
All three defendants were taken into custody without incident on Thursday.
The investigation is ongoing, and Plata said anyone who allegedly may have been victimized should call IPD detectives at 760-391-4057, or the Department of Consumer Affairs at 916-340-5892.
Background information on the trio was unavailable.