A 31-year-old woman who marketed herself as a cosmetic doctor on Instagram was arrested inside her Brickell-area studio during what she believed was a routine Botox appointment, Miami-Dade authorities said in March 2026. The client sitting in her chair was an undercover agent.
Mayling Maya-Giraldo now faces a felony charge of practicing health care without a license under Florida Statute 456.065, which carries up to five years in prison. She has entered a written plea of not guilty, according to court records reviewed by People. A court hearing is scheduled for April 20, 2026.
How the sting came together
Investigators with the Miami-Dade Medical Crime Squad say they identified Maya-Giraldo through her Instagram account, mayling.stetic, where she referred to herself as a doctor in Spanish and posted before-and-after photos of facial injection work. An undercover agent contacted her through direct messages and booked an appointment for Botox, according to an arrest affidavit.
When the agent arrived at the studio, Maya-Giraldo quoted a price of $450 for the injections and presented consent forms, the affidavit states. She then showed vials of the product she planned to use and prepared syringes. Before any injection was administered, the Medical Crime Squad team monitoring the session moved in and took her into custody, according to Yahoo News.
Maya-Giraldo allegedly told the undercover agent she held certificates authorizing her to inject Botox. Florida regulators say she had no such credentials and no medical license of any kind in the state.
The product: a Korean neurotoxin not approved by the FDA
The substance Maya-Giraldo allegedly used was not standard, FDA-approved Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, manufactured by Allergan). Investigators identified it as Toxta, a botulinum toxin type A product made by South Korean pharmaceutical company Medytox. Toxta is approved for cosmetic use in South Korea but has never received FDA clearance for sale or use in the United States.
That distinction matters for patient safety. FDA-approved botulinum toxin products must meet strict manufacturing, potency, and cold-chain storage requirements. Unapproved imports bypass those controls entirely, meaning consumers have no guarantee of correct dosing, sterility, or proper refrigeration, all factors that can lead to adverse reactions ranging from drooping eyelids to, in rare cases, botulism-like symptoms from toxin spread.
Immigration hold adds a layer of complexity
Beyond the state charges, Maya-Giraldo is being held on an immigration detainer, according to a post shared by investigators. An immigration detainer is a request, typically from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, asking a local jail to hold a person beyond their normal release date so federal agents can take custody. In practice, it means Maya-Giraldo could remain in detention even if she posts bond on the Florida charges.
A pattern Miami authorities say is growing
Maya-Giraldo’s arrest is not an isolated case. In February 2026, Miami-Dade’s Medical Crime Squad arrested another woman accused of performing illegal Botox injections at multiple unlicensed locations, according to local television coverage. That suspect also allegedly used unapproved neurotoxin products and promoted her services on social media.
The American Med Spa Association reported in 2024 that complaints related to unlicensed injectable providers had risen sharply in several Sun Belt states, driven in part by the ease of marketing cosmetic services on Instagram and TikTok. Florida law requires that botulinum toxin injections be performed by, or under the direct supervision of, a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.
Dr. Ira Savetsky, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York, told People that consumers should always verify a provider’s license through their state medical board before receiving any injectable treatment. “If someone can’t show you a valid medical license, that’s your answer,” he said.
How to protect yourself
Authorities and medical professionals recommend several steps before booking any injectable cosmetic procedure:
- Verify the provider’s license. Florida residents can search the Florida Department of Health license verification portal by name.
- Ask about the product by name. FDA-approved botulinum toxin brands in the U.S. include Botox (Allergan), Dysport (Galderma), Xeomin (Merz), Jeuveau (Evolus), and Daxxify (Revance). If a provider cannot identify the product or the vial lacks English-language FDA labeling, walk away.
- Be skeptical of steep discounts. Wholesale costs for FDA-approved Botox make it difficult for legitimate providers to offer prices far below market rates. Unusually low pricing can signal unapproved product or an unlicensed injector.
- Look for a clinical setting. Licensed providers typically operate in medical offices, clinics, or accredited med spas, not apartments or unmarked studios.
Maya-Giraldo’s next court appearance is set for April 20, 2026. She has not made a public statement, and no attorney representing her has commented on the charges.
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