FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S JOINT EFFORTS RESULT IN FELONY ARREST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: DOH Communications Office July 27, 2012 Ashley Carr (850) 245-4111
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S JOINT EFFORTS RESULT IN FELONY ARREST
-Partnered investigation highlights Department’s Unlicensed Activity Unit-
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) South Florida Unlicensed Activity Unit (ULA) today announced that a joint investigation with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FTLPD) has resulted in the July 26, 2012 arrest of Oneal Ron Morris in connection with the unlicensed practice of a health care profession resulting in serious injury, and manslaughter; both crimes are second degree felonies.
Morris was previously arrested on November 18, 2011 and on November 23, 2011 for the unlicensed practice of a health care profession, resulting in serious injury, which was the culmination of a joint investigation between ULA Investigators and Detectives from the Miami Gardens Police Department (MGPD). That investigation identified two victims who allegedly received buttock enhancements from Morris through a series of injections with unknown substances, causing serious injuries to both victims.
Both previous arrests produced substantial national and international media attention, which served as the catalyst for several other victims coming forward. All of these victims alleged that Morris performed similar procedures on them which also caused serious injuries. After a joint BSO/ULA investigation identified three more victims who allegedly received buttock enhancements from Morris through a series of injections with the unknown substances he supplied, Morris was again arrested by BSO Detectives on March 12, 2012, and charged with one count of the unlicensed practice of a health care profession and two counts of the unlicensed practice of a health care profession resulting in serious injury.
An ongoing ULA/BSO/FTLPD investigation of Morris’ activities identified yet another two victims who alleged that Morris was the individual who performed a series of buttock enhancements on them. The procedure caused numerous infections for both victims and according to evidence developed during the investigation, ultimately resulted in the death of one of the victims. These crimes were the basis for the July 26 arrest. Morris has never been licensed to practice any healthcare profession in the state of Florida.
Morris is being held without bond in the BSO Male Jail.
The Florida Department of Health encourages anyone with additional information concerning Morris or similar crimes to contact their local law enforcement agency or the phone number/website listed below.
DOH has several resources to combat unlicensed activity: * Consumers are encouraged to use DOH’s Web site www.flhealthsource.com where they can conveniently view the license information of their health care practitioner. * Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form on the DOH Web site or calling 1-877-HALT-ULA or 1-877-425-8852 (Option #3).
The Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) unlicensed activity program protects Florida residents and visitors from the potentially serious and dangerous consequences of receiving medical and health care services from an unlicensed person. The Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations. The unlicensed activity unit works in conjunction with law enforcement and the state attorney’s offices to prosecute individuals practicing without a license. In many instances, unlicensed activity is a felony level criminal offense. More importantly, receiving health care from unlicensed people is dangerous and could result in further injury, disease or even death.
To learn more about the Department of Health’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance’s enforcement processes, please visit the Unlicensed Activity Unit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/unlicensed/unlic_home.html website.
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