A New York City beautician has been charged for allegedly administering counterfeit Botox to clients at his medical spa, following several complaints of adverse health effects. Federal authorities revealed the details of the case against Joey Grant Luther, highlighting that some customers suffered serious and life-threatening injuries after receiving injections at his Manhattan spa from 2021 until July of this year.
Luther, 54 years old and residing in Manhattan, faces multiple charges including wire fraud and smuggling, as well as violations related to misbranded and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Officials reported that he was unlicensed to perform Botox injections. Between April 2023 and July, he allegedly imported counterfeit Botox from various Asian countries, including China.
After being taken into custody, Luther was released after posting bail set at $100,000. His legal representative has been contacted for comments but there has been no response as of yet.
U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon provided a statement indicating that Luther misled clients, claiming the Botox he procured from China was genuine. Sassoon further stated that Luther continued to inject the counterfeit substance even after receiving reports from clients about experiencing illness or unusual side effects.
The serious nature of Luther’s actions put his clients at considerable risk, with some experiencing critical health complications. According to legal documents, one individual was diagnosed with botulism after receiving an injection from his practice, which occurred a month prior to her diagnosis last March. Symptoms she reported included double vision, lightheadedness, difficulty swallowing, heart palpitations, and slurred speech, along with an inability to lift her arms.
Luther allegedly deceived clients by downplaying the seriousness of their side effects, assuring them any discomfort was temporary and maintaining that he was not using counterfeit Botox, even though he was aware of the truth. A raid conducted in March at his spa revealed documentation indicating that more than 700 appointments had been made for Botox-related services, underscoring the extensive nature of his operations.
