By Paul Milo | pmilo@njadvancemedia.com |
Two men were arrested for practicing dentistry without a license out of a pair of Linden apartments, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan said Wednesday.
Roselle resident Jorge Renteria-Paz, 46, and 73-year-old Linden resident Hector Carro were charged with unlawful practice of dentistry before they were released pending a Feb. 23 appearance in Superior Court.
If convicted, Renteria-Paz and Carro face up to five years in prison.
Authorities say the men performed dental work at residences on West Elizabeth and Chandler avenues, where investigators on Tuesday found dental equipment including a handheld X-ray machine, sterilization equipment and other dental tools.
Authorities also found more than $20,000.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation last year after a woman told Linden police she had paid the men nearly $1,000 for work done over the course of several visits.
The woman later developed a severe oral infection, according to Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Barnes. The victims were all unauthorized immigrants without insurance, authorities also said.
“Those who perform dental or medical work without a license in New Jersey don’t just illegally profit from their schemes by exploiting some of our most vulnerable citizens. Too often they also place the health of their client victims in jeopardy with substandard techniques and sterilization methods,” Monahan said.
Authorities did not say if the men held dentistry licenses in other countries.
Source: NJ.com / Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook
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