Woman sentenced after conviction of practicing medicine without a license

A 51-year-old woman alleged to have operated an illegal and unlicensed surgical center has been sentenced to an 18-month to four-year prison term.

Patricia Padilla in October pleaded guilty to one felony count of practicing medicine without a license. In the plea deal, prosecutors dropped eight other felony and misdemeanor charges.

The charge stemmed from a botched surgery in June on a woman at Botanica Maya on the 5300 block of Lake Mead Boulevard, near Nellis Boulevard.

Authorities learned of the illegal operation after a 911 call on June 19 seeking help for a woman who was bleeding excessively.

The 26-year-old woman had sought help from Padilla in removing a reoccurring vaginal abscess because she lost her health insurance, according to Padilla's arrest report.

The victim told investigators the original cost for the operation was $150, but another $100 was tacked on because the surgery was extensive.

The surgery was performed by a person called "Gustavo" and his assistant "Rico," according to the arrest report. Padilla told the victim that Gustavo was a doctor from Guatemala.

After the surgery, the victim noticed she was hemorrhaging and asked for an ambulance. Padilla, at first, tried to prevent the victim from calling 911, according to the arrest report.

Before emergency services arrived, Gustavo and Rico fled the scene. No one else has been charged in connection with the illegal surgery, according to court records.