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Home · Articles · News · Rogue of the Week · U.S. Attorney's Office
December 13th, 2006 WW Editorial Staff | Rogue of the Week
 

U.S. Attorney's Office

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Sure, people make "mistakes" sometimes. For Dr. Jerome Lentini, his "mistake" was injecting animal-grade, microbe-produced nerve toxins from China into the crow's feet and puckered pusses of Lake Oswego hausfraus.

Earlier this week, Lentini was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison in a plea deal for injecting more than 800 victims with non-FDA-approved Botulinum toxin marked "NOT FOR HUMAN USE" at his "A Younger You" clinics in Salem and Tigard, according to court records. He and his co-defendant, nurse Cathryn Garcia, were ordered to pay more than $330,000 restitution. (Garcia's prison sentence was one year.)

But we think the U.S. Attorney's Office, which prosecuted the case and offered Lentini the deal, is also guilty of some roguish behavior for the deal it entered with Lentini.

Lentini, 58, pleaded guilty to "misbranding with intent to defraud or mislead," namely leading his patients to think they were getting name-brand BOTOX®. According to prosecutors' own sentencing memorandum, the amount of money involved, number of victims, risk of injury and abuse of trust involved in the case made the crime worth between 57 and 71 months in prison. The single count of the 52-count indictment to which Lentini pleaded guilty in his deal carries a maximum penalty of three years.

Yet prosecutors recommended he serve only half that time. "While defendant saved money by using the cheaper toxins, he also charged less than doctors typically charged for legitimate BOTOX—thus limiting his profits," they wrote. "It seems clear that the 18-month sentence is more than adequate to ensure that he never again crosses the line through use of non-FDA approved drugs."

But the deal was also supposed to take into account Lentini's cooperation in the investigation. And a footnote in the sentencing memorandum says he "proved a very difficult witness.... Lentini simply did not have much to say...and the government did not call him as a witness" against Garcia, his co-defendant. Doesn't sound too helpful, does it?

 
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12.14.2006 at 06:27 Reply
I am quite familiar with the case and agree that Dr. Lentini received a lenient sentence. He may well be among the physicians who used the prohibited and dangerous botulinum toxin most often in the U.S. However, Dr. Lentini vehemently disagrees, believing himself the innocent victim of government perfidy. That is the most frightening aspect of this situation. Unless he undergoes an amazing transformation within the next year and a half, the man will emerge from prison still believing there was nothing wrong with what he did.

 

12.30.2006 at 06:40 Reply
I am Dr. Jerome Lentini's mother and I am shocked to read of the venom directed at him by those who don't know him and concludes that everything they read in the papers as gospel truth. Much of the truth about the case was blocked and if it were possible to release the true facts, I am sure that the public would be far more compassionate and not so quick to condemn.

He was highly respected here in Florida by all the doctors and nurses who knew him. For years he worked in ER, saving numerous lives. It is sickning for me to read comments in the paper, most of them accusing him of greed. He had hoped one day, when his children were on their own, he then would join "Doctor's without Borders." Everyone knows the pay is minimal and if money was so important to him do you think he would want to spend the rest of his life caring for the poor and sick, for very little compensation? To accuse him of greed is ludicrous.

When he is released from prison he said he plans on going to Haiti to help his cousin, Sister Mahima, who is a nun with Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's order. That should give you a clue of the real Jerome, of his compassion and generousity, a true discription of him that will no doubt cause many to scoff at.

I am truly grateful to the two persons who apparantly knew him, wrote a far more genuine picture of his character. I want to thank them for that.

Sincerely,

Margaret Lentini

 

01.08.2007 at 06:07 Reply
As far as I have heard Dr Lentini's use of non approved Botox had no medical ill affects on his patients. So whaz up? Ok he misbranded or missrepresented the botox. I have heard this has been common. Hell, next time Lentini, rob a bank with an Uzi you'll be out in a week. I wonder if the company that makes botox got worried re their big profits. "What?, competition?, we can't have that.

Is the purpose of this government to serve up the populace to it's corporate lords.

 

08.05.2007 at 08:46 Reply
Just wanted to weigh in: I am a physician in Colorado Springs and did my training in Portland, OR. Coincidentally, I worked with Dr. Lentini as a paramedic in Florida before going to medical school. Dr. Lentini is a kind and decent person who was well-respected by the fire department personel with whom I worked. I can't explain what happened but I know that if Dr. Lentini had any doubt whatsoever that what he was doing could be harmful to anyone, he would never have done it. You're in my prayers Jerome!

 

09.14.2007 at 05:00 Reply
I knew him also, back when he worked in Florida, he's a good man with a good heart, and a damn fine ER doctor. He was never in it for the money, He had the beat up old car when the other doctors bought flashy new sports cars. He lived simply, he was genuine, kind and caring. He never raised his voice, he never yelled at the staff. He was always a pleasure to work with and a pleasure to know. If his family ever reads this, I for one will never EVER believe that he ever did anything to harm anyone or that he was trying to make a buck at anyone else's expense. Mrs. Lentini, you have a great son. Be proud of him. Those of us that know him, knew him and have worked with him know the man he is.

 

 
 

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