Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has announced charges against Joey Grant Luther for wire fraud, smuggling, and other crimes related to counterfeit drugs. According to the complaint, from April 2023 through July 2024, Luther allegedly shipped counterfeit drugs, including Botox, from Asian countries like China and injected them into clients at his medical spa, JGL Aesthetics in Hell’s Kitchen. These products were not approved by the FDA for sale or use in the U.S.
"Luther continued to purchase and inject the counterfeit Botox even after he learned that clients had fallen ill or experienced strange symptoms after Luther injected them," said U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon. "Luther’s disregard for the health of his clients put all of his victims in harm’s way and, in some cases, caused life-threatening injuries."
The complaint details how between January 2021 and July 2024, Luther operated JGL Aesthetics where he administered treatments without proper licensing. In one instance from September 2021 to February 2024, a client known as Victim-1 received injections labeled as Botox but manufactured by Allergan on eight occasions without providing a prescription.
On February 27, 2024, after receiving another injection from Luther, Victim-1 began experiencing severe symptoms like double vision and heart palpitations and was later diagnosed with Botulism toxin on March 20, 2024.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol seized parcels intended for JGL Aesthetics containing counterfeit drugs between April 2023 and January 2024. Despite this seizure and complaints from clients about adverse effects such as lazy eyes and drooping eyelids, Luther assured them that these were temporary side effects.
From March to October 2024 alone, JGL Aesthetics logged approximately 700 appointments coded for Botox-related services despite ongoing investigations.
Luther faces multiple charges: wire fraud with a maximum sentence of 20 years; dispensing misbranded drugs carrying up to one year; holding counterfeit drugs with up to ten years; receiving misbranded drugs with up to three years; and smuggling with a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Ms. Sassoon commended the efforts of several investigative bodies including the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations and FBI among others involved in this case which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon C. Thompson from the Narcotics Unit.
It is important to note that these charges are accusations only until proven guilty in court.