MQA Quarterly Performance Report

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MQA Q1 2014 - 2015
Joint investigations yield results
9
During the first quarter, MQA’s Unlicensed Activity Units
wrapped up several joint operations with legal and
criminal penalties:
• The Tampa Unlicensed Activity Unit with the Florida
Department of Business and Professional Regulation,
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, arrested
Maher Masoud for the unlicensed practice of
pharmacy, dispensing drugs, and the felony sale of
counterfeit movie DVDs. On three different occasions,
undercover investigators purchased Viagra at the
Dollar Way Plus Store, located at 4810 E. Busch
Boulevard, Tampa, and on August 21, Masoud was
charged with multiple felonies and issued a cease and
desist agreement and citation for $1,000.
• The Miami Unlicensed Activity Unit in a joint
investigation with the Miami-Dade Police Department’s
Intracoastal District and Organized Crime Unit arrested
Alberto J. Lobo and Ruth M. Cula for the practice of
unlicensed medicine, a third-degree felony punishable
by up to one year in jail. Cula was also arrested for
the unlicensed practice of massage therapy. An
anonymous complaint stated that New Image Life Spa,
located at 18790 West Dixie Highway, Aventura, was
performing permanent makeup and Botox services
without a license, as well as unlicensed massage
therapy. Undercover investigations led to the arrests.
• The Tallahassee and Pensacola Unlicensed Activity
Unit in a joint investigation with the Tallahassee Police
Department, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Florida
Department of Law Enforcement, and U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement arrested Xiaoyan Tian for
the unlicensed practice of massage therapy, a third
degree felony punishable by up to one year in jail.
Tian, an unlicensed massage therapist, attempted to
perform a massage on an undercover officer at the
Health Center, 3832 Killearn Court, Tallahassee. Tian
also was issued a cease and desist notice and citation.
• The Palm Beach Unlicensed Activity Unit in a
joint investigation with the Martin County Sheriff’s
Office arrested Sean Shantung for multiple accounts
of alleged unlicensed practice of a health care
profession, which is a third degree felony punishable
by up to five years in prison. Shantung was also
arrested for Unlicensed Practice of an Acupuncturist.
Shantung practiced unlicensed acupuncture on an
undercover investigator at the Temple of Tal Holistic
Healing in Jensen Beach.
In a separate joint investigation, the partners arrested
Richard Ruperto for the alleged unlicensed practice
of a health care profession and unlicensed practice
of mental health counseling. Ruperto practiced
unlicensed mental health counseling on an undercover
investigator at the TC-4 Counseling Center in Stuart.
• The Orlando Unlicensed Activity Unit with the Office
of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
(MFCU) arrested Wellington D. Liranzo for unlicensed
practice of medicine. He was also charged with
Medicaid provider fraud. An investigation conducted
by MFCU revealed that Liranzo, an employee of Prime
Care Family Health Center, represented himself as a
physician and treated Medicaid patients.
MQA depends on its partnerships with other state
and federal agencies and local authorities to stop
unlicensed activity. But in the end, it’s the people in
the neighborhoods who are victimized and who see
the activity. If you see unlicensed activity, please report
it by calling 1-877-HALT-ULA, emailing HALTULA@
flhealth.gov or visiting our websit
loridahealth.gov.