Joint Investigation Leads To the Arrest of Samir Gasub El Charif Abreu for Practicing As an Unlicensed Doctor

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Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health’s Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit in  Miami announced that their joint investigation with the Doral Police Department, Miami Dade Police Department (Economic Crimes Bureau - Medical Crimes Unit), U. S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement, Federal Drug Administration, and the State Attorney’s Office has led to the arrest of Samir Gasub El Charif Abreu (also known as Samir El Charif) for the alleged unlicensed practice of medicine, which is a third degree felony and punishable by up to one year in jail. 

The joint operation was conducted on March 7, 2018 at Samir Gasub El Charif Abreu’s place of business, MAKA CLINIC (located at 2670 NW 97^th Avenue Doral, Florida). Two Miami Dade Police Department undercover detectives entered the clinic for a Botox and a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) procedure to be performed by Samir Gasub El Charif Abreu. Samir Gasub El Charif Abreu diagnosed and offered to treat one of the undercover detectives for a total cost of $400.00. He was then arrested for practicing medicine without a license and for the possession of prescription drugs with the intent to dispense.

The Florida Department of Health issued Samir Gasub El Charif Abreu a Notice to Cease and Desist for practicing medicine without a license along with a citation for $2,229.84.

The department has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:

• Consumers are encouraged to use the department’s website www.flhealthsource.gov/ula 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.

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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