Rebecca Fadanelli, a resident of Stoughton, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty on Mar. 23 in federal court in Boston to charges related to performing thousands of injections with counterfeit Botox and dermal fillers imported from China and Brazil. Authorities said Fadanelli was not licensed to perform such procedures but received over $1 million from clients for these services.
Fadanelli, who owned Skin Beaute Med Spa locations in Randolph and South Easton, admitted guilt to four counts of importing merchandise contrary to law, two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit drug, and two counts of selling or dispensing a counterfeit device. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled her sentencing for July 1.
According to charging documents, Fadanelli began importing the counterfeit products as early as March 2021 and conducted thousands of procedures using these substances. She reportedly misrepresented herself as a nurse despite only being an aesthetician without any license to administer prescription drugs or devices.
The charges carry significant penalties: up to 20 years in prison for importing merchandise contrary to law and up to 10 years each for selling or dispensing counterfeit drugs or devices. Each charge also includes potential supervised release periods and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined according to federal guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea along with officials from the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Boston Field Office. Local police departments and the Medicaid Fraud Division also assisted with the investigation.
People who believe they may have received services involving counterfeit products at Skin Beaute Med Spa between 2021 and 2025 are encouraged by authorities to complete a questionnaire on the FDA’s website.