Back Door Embezzlement -- Oklahoma City's mother and daughter Monica Salazar-Orozco and Elizabeth Hinojosa accused of practicing dentistry without licenses case turn themselves in 

Monica Salazar-Orozco and Elizabeth Hinojosa, a mother and daughter facing charges of practicing dentistry without a license, surrendered to authorities Monday and were booked into the Oklahoma County jail on multiple felony complaints, records show.

Elizabeth Hinojosa, 47, of Oklahoma City, is charged with two counts of practicing dentistry without a license. Hinojosa also is charged with one count each of forgery, medical battery and embezzlement.

Monica Salazar-Orozco, 28, of Oklahoma City, is charged with two counts of practicing dentistry without a license.

Hinojosa and Salazar-Orozco are accused of pulling teeth, performing root canals, injecting anesthesia and forging prescriptions, court papers show.

Monica Salazar-Orozco and Elizabeth Hinojosa released on $20K bail

They were arraigned Monday in Oklahoma County District Court and are free on $20,000 bail each, jail officials said.

Both women had been on the run since warrants were issued for their arrest on Aug. 31, state Dental Board investigators said.

Hinojosa, also known as “Dr. Liz” by the victims, was a dental assistant and her daughter was a receptionist where the alleged incidents took place between September 2010 and May 2011, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with the charges.

Both worked for Dr. Salam Ramadan, who owns and operates Dental Spa locations at 1211 SW 44 and 3315 NW 63 in Oklahoma City.

Ramadan has said she didn't learn about the alleged incidents until she was contacted by the board, which started investigating when it received a complaint.

Susan Rogers, executive director of the state Dental Board, said Ramadan is not suspected of any wrongdoing and may have been targeted by Hinojosa.

Hinojosa was hired by Ramadan and a different dentist as a Spanish translator as well as a part-time dental assistant.

Rogers said neither dentist Hinojosa worked for spoke any Spanish, and relied on her or her daughter to translate for patients during procedures and to set appointments. But they scheduled appointments after the offices closed and forwarded office calls to their personal phones, she said.

Hinojosa and Salazar-Orozco performed unlicensed dental work on at least 22 adults and children, including extractions, fillings, bridges and other procedures, investigators allege.

Rogers said Monday that 48 victims have come forward, and as many as 100 adults and children may have been victims.

 

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