Within two weeks of an Orange County man’s release from prison after serving time for impersonating a medical professional and performing cosmetic surgery without a license, officials say he tried again to open an illegal Botox practice.
Elias Renteria Segoviano, 63, is facing new charges after his probation officer noticed he had tried again to rent a space at Phenix Salon Suites in Brea. A business called Botox in Anaheim used to operate — illegally — there, according to a news by the Orange County District Attorney.
Elias Renteria Segoviano admitted to performing invasive procedures with potentially adulterated substances, officials say.
(Orange County District Attorney’s Office)
Last month, prosecutors said, Segoviano provided the suite’s owners with a false name and shared plans for Botox injections and a facelift — both of which require medical licenses that Segoviano does not have. Segoviano also applied for a business license from the city of Brea, which was denied, prosecutors said.
Segoviano, of Brea, was first arrested in July 2022 at the Phenix Salon, where officials said he targeted Hispanic women and performed a series of cosmetic procedures on more than 20 victims. The procedures included Botox and lip and facial fillers that Segoviano admitted to using potentially harmful and counterfeit drugs, according to the prosecutor.
Segoviano later pleaded guilty to multiple felonies, including unauthorized practice of medicine, false indication of a medical license and perjury. He also pleaded guilty to falsely posing as a licensed physician, falsely stating qualifications and impersonating a registered nurse, all misdemeanors.
“Segoviano admitted to performing invasive procedures and injecting victims with potentially counterfeit Botox, fillers, anesthetics and other medical drugs that put the public at extreme risk,” the prosecutor’s statement said.
He was sentenced to four years but was released in December after earning credit for time served in prison before pleading guilty. After his release, he was placed under community supervision.
About a month later, Segoviano was arrested again and remains in jail on $20,000 bail, prosecutors said. He has been charged with two felony counts of unlicensed practice of medicine and one misdemeanor count of falsely representing himself as a licensed physician.
“This man walked and talked a medical professional’s license, but he was anything but what he pretended to be,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “The fact that he was out of prison less than two weeks – and while under supervision – when he immediately returned to a life of crime makes it painfully obvious that he has no intention of changing his behavior and will continue to try to make money off the unsuspecting women at every opportunity.”
The DA’s office asked anyone who may have received treatment from Segoviano to contact Investigator Jesse Alfonzo at (714) 834-6538.
