MINEOLA, N.Y.Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly stated on Tuesday that a Hempstead woman has been charged with unlawfully practicing dentistry out of her one-bedroom apartment, where she reportedly carried out tooth extractions and other surgeries without a license.
A felony charge of unlawful practice of a profession was brought against Gladys Serrano, 70, at her arraignment. After entering a not guilty plea, she was sent to electronic monitoring for pre-trial services. Serrano was prohibited from leaving New York State by Judge Charles G. McQuair, who also ordered her to give up her passport. The date of her court appearance is set for January 8, 2025.
On July 26, 2024, prosecutors claim that Serrano removed five teeth from a victim following a quick visual inspection in her temporary workspace, which was in the kitchen of her Hempstead residence on Greenwich Street. The kitchen and the remainder of the flat were separated by a curtain, and the office included cabinets filled with used dental tools, medicine vials, and a patient chair next to a sink.
Serrano is accused of charging the victim $1,950 over several trips, but he never delivered on his promise to provide a working dental bridge. Between August and December 2024, the victim made multiple trips back to try to fix the problem, but the bridge never fit.
Numerous dental instruments, impression molds, tartar scrapers, used dental needles, and boxes of prescription drugs, including lidocaine and amoxicillin, were found during a search warrant that was conducted at Serrano’s home. According to state records, Serrano does not hold a New York dental license.
According to DA Donnelly, practicing dentistry without the required authorization presents a grave risk to public health and safety. She encouraged anyone who thinks they could have been harmed by Serrano to get in touch with the Office of Immigrant Affairs of the Nassau County District Attorney.
Jennifer Contreras, a Senior Investigative Counsel in the Major Financial Frauds Bureau, is prosecuting the case. If found guilty, Serrano could spend up to four years behind bars.
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