GRAND JURY FILES ADDITIONAL CHARGES AGAINST WOMAN WHO TREATED AT LEAST TEN PATIENTS WHILE PRETENDING TO BE A DOCTOR

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a grand jury has indicted Dolores Rodas, 43, on multiple counts of grand larceny and practicing medicine without a license.

Rodas, 43, a.k.a. Carmen Lara, of 3215 Bainbridge Avenue, the Bronx, was indicted on one count of Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree, six counts of Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree, and ten counts of Unauthorized Practice (Education Law section 6512). Rodas is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Monday, May 21, 2007 in State Supreme Court Part A. She is facing a maximum sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment if convicted of the most serious charge of Grand Larceny in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony offense. Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree is a Class D felony offense punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 7 years imprisonment on each count. Unauthorized Practice is a Class E felony offense punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 4 years imprisonment on each count. Rodas is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

The indictment alleges that Rodas pretended to be a medical doctor when in fact she is not licensed to practice medicine. It is alleged that the defendant treated at least ten people, including three couples for fertility and other issues and four individuals for gastrointestinal problems. Rodas allegedly charged one couple in excess of $50,000 for so called fertility treatments, including painful injections in the genitals, between April 28, 2006 and March 21, 2007. Two other couples seeking medical help for fertility problems allegedly paid the defendant more than $3,000 for similar injections. The four individuals who sought treatment for gastrointestinal problems also allegedly paid the defendant well in excess of $3,000 each.

All but two of the victims were residents of Irvington, New Jersey when the alleged crimes occurred. Two of the victims were residents of the adjacent town of Maplewood, New Jersey. All of the victims had been referred to the defendant by friends and family members.

Rodas was arrested in front of her Bainbridge Avenue apartment house on March 28, 2007 by Detectives from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office based on a complaint by a childless couple from Irvington, New Jersey. The couple had undergone painful treatments for more than a year before the alleged scam came to light. The investigation began last month when the couple went to Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey for emergency treatment after the woman experienced vaginal bleeding. When they told the medical staff about the protracted “fertility treatments” the staff notified authorities in New Jersey who in turn contacted the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. Reports on this couple’s ordeal prompted the other victims covered in the indictment to come forward. This is a continuing investigation and anyone with additional information about this alleged scam should call the Bronx District Attorney’s Detective Investigators at (718) 590-2050.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Assistant District Attorney Richard Baker of the Investigations Division.