Joint Investigation Leads To Arrest in Unlicensed Practice of Dentistry in Miami

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NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
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Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health’s Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit announced that their joint investigation with the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Economic Crimes Bureau - Medical Crimes Unit has led to the arrest of Karim Selene Cordova Rivera for the alleged unlicensed practice of dentistry which is a third degree felony and punishable by up to one year in jail. 

The joint operation was conducted on Oct. 3 at 1873 NW 44^th Street, Miami, Florida wherein Rivera offered undercover operatives a tooth extraction procedure for a fee of $80.00. The Florida Department of Health issued Rivera a Notice to Cease and Desist for practicing as a dentist in the State of Florida and a Citation totaling $2,984.66.  The Miami Dade Police Department’s Economic Crimes Bureau – Medical Crimes Unit arrested Rivera for practicing dentistry without a license. 

The department has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:

• Consumers are encouraged to use the department’s website www.flhealthsource.gov where they can conveniently view the license information of their health care practitioner.
• Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form on the Florida Department of Health’s Web site, calling 1-877-HALT-ULA, or emailing HALTULA@flhealth.gov/ula.

The department’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations. The ULA Unit works in conjunction with law enforcement and the state attorney’s offices to prosecute individuals practicing without a license. In many instances, unlicensed activity is a felony level criminal offense. More importantly, receiving health care from unlicensed people is dangerous and could result in further injury, disease or even death.      

Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA regulates seven types of facilities and 200-plus license types in more than 40 health care professions. MQA evaluates the credentials of all applicants for licensure, issues licenses, analyzes and investigates complaints, inspects facilities, assists in prosecuting practice act violations, combats unlicensed activity and provides credential and discipline history about licensees to the public. Visit: https://flhealthsource.gov for additional information about MQA.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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