Fraudulent practitioner sentenced for fatal butt injection procedures that led to the death of a mother of two.
A fraudulent medical practitioner in Queens, Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, was sentenced to a prison term of five to 15 years following his guilty plea for manslaughter related to the death of a patient last year. The victim, María Paz Peñaloza Cabrera, a 31-year-old mother of two, died after undergoing an unauthorized buttock augmentation procedure at Hoyos-Foronda’s residence in Astoria.
Prosecutors reported that Peñaloza Cabrera suffered a severe reaction to the anesthesia administered during the procedure, leading to her tragic demise weeks later. The circumstances surrounding her death revealed a harrowing sequence of events. Despite efforts to revive her, Hoyos-Foronda fled the scene, only to be apprehended hours later at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he awaited a flight to Colombia, his native country.
Evidence collected from Hoyos-Foronda’s vehicle further implicated him in the illegal medical practice. Authorities discovered a garbage bag containing a bloody syringe and multiple used syringes, along with an empty vial of lidocaine and other medications. Peñaloza Cabrera succumbed to lidocaine toxicity, a condition characterized by potentially life-threatening symptoms such as seizures, irregular heart rhythms, and respiratory failure—results of excessive anesthesia entering her bloodstream. She ultimately lost her life two weeks after the procedure when she was taken off a ventilator.
During the court proceedings, Peñaloza Cabrera’s husband, Theodore Paloumbas, expressed the profound impact of this loss on his life and the lives of his children. He articulated his ongoing grief and the challenges of raising their child alone is a constant reminder of the future they had envisioned together. The emotional weight of the victim’s family was palpable as they gathered in court, seeking justice for the heartbreaking circumstances of Peñaloza Cabrera’s death.
Queens District Attorney Melissa Katz commented on the case, emphasizing the gravity of Hoyos-Foronda’s actions. She stated that his lack of qualifications rendered him unfit to practice as a medical professional, thus contributing to the “senseless loss” of a young mother who sought cosmetic improvement.
The unauthorized procedure occurred in a makeshift medical office in Hoyos-Foronda’s home, reflecting the significant risks associated with unlicensed cosmetic surgeries that continue to proliferate despite awareness of their dangers. The case serves as a tragic reminder of the potential consequences of seeking medical procedures outside regulated and certified environments.
