Dean Faiello
Encyclopedia
Dean Faiello is an American criminal currently imprisoned at Attica Correctional Facility
after being found responsible for the April 2003 death of Maria Cruz, whom he had represented himself to as a dermatologist. Faiello held neither a medical degree
nor a license to practice medicine
.
, where he graduated from Madison High School
in 1977 (and was voted "most likely to succeed" by his classmates). He enrolled in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
in 1977, but left without graduating.
. (He later moved to an office on 133 East 73rd Street, then to an office at 117 East 18th Street in Gramercy Park.) The medical spa
offered blood vessel removal
, electrolysis
, laser hair removal
, laser skin treatments, tattoo removal, and facial
s.
In 1998, Faiello was charged with possession of a controlled substance
, forgery
and possession of a forged instrument. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor
count of possession of a forged instrument and was sentenced to three years' probation
. Faiello claimed on his professional website to hold a Master of Science
degree from RPI and the credential of Certified Professional Electrologist, despite it lapsing in 1998 after he failed to earn continuing education unit
s required to maintain certification.
On October 6, 2002, the New York Post
published an investigation into Faiello titled "He'll Make Your Skin Crawl". He was arrested two days later on three counts of practicing medicine without a license, but was released on bail with the condition that he not continue to treat patients. Faiello subsequently began to see patients out of an apartment at 115 W. 16th Street.
investment banker Maria Cruz had an appointment with Mr. Faiello for laser treatment of black hairy tongue. She went into convulsions
after he injected lidocaine
into her tongue; Faiello contacted an acquaintance that was a physician and was told to rush Cruz an emergency room. Instead of seeking immediate medical aid, Faiello took Cruz's body in a large suitcase to his home (which formerly belonged to the internationally known opera singer Maria Jeritza
) in the Forest Hill
neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey
and buried her under the garage. Her body was found on February 18, 2004.
Faiello fled the country in September 2003, entering Costa Rica
on a three-month visa. He was arrested on February 26, 2004 at a resort in northwestern Costa Rica. He was imprisoned in Costa Rica and fought extradition
, but was ultimately returned to the United States in May 2005 and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ms. Cruz. He entered a plea agreement
by pleading guilty to first degree assault
in exchange for a 20 year prison sentence.
Attica Correctional Facility
The Attica Correctional Facility is a maximum penitentiary in the town of Attica, New York, operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services. After it was constructed in the 1930s, it held many of the most dangerous criminals of the time. A tear gas system is installed in the mess...
after being found responsible for the April 2003 death of Maria Cruz, whom he had represented himself to as a dermatologist. Faiello held neither a medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
nor a license to practice medicine
Medical license
In most countries, only persons with a medical license bestowed either by a specified government-approved professional association or a government agency are authorized to practice medicine. Licenses are not granted automatically to all people with medical degrees...
.
Early life and education
Faiello was raised in Madison, New JerseyMadison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
, where he graduated from Madison High School
Madison High School (New Jersey)
Madison High School is a four-year public high school serving students in grades 9-12 in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Madison Public Schools. The school is located in the borough of Madison...
in 1977 (and was voted "most likely to succeed" by his classmates). He enrolled in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
in 1977, but left without graduating.
Career
Faiello had worked in construction before getting a job at a day spa, where he became skilled at hair removal. In 1996, he began his own practice, SkinOvations, from an office on Park AvenuePark Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
. (He later moved to an office on 133 East 73rd Street, then to an office at 117 East 18th Street in Gramercy Park.) The medical spa
Day spa
A day spa is a business establishment which people visit for professionally administered personal care treatments such as massages and facials. It is similar to a beauty salon in that it is only visited for the duration of the treatment. Day spas sited in airport terminals are often called airport...
offered blood vessel removal
Intense pulsed light
Intense pulsed light , is a technology aimed at producing light of high intensity during a very short period of time. It involves specific lamps together with capacitors whose rapid discharge provides the high energy required....
, electrolysis
Electrolysis
In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a method of using a direct electric current to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction...
, laser hair removal
Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal was performed experimentally for about 20 years before it became commercially available in the mid 1990s. One of the first published articles describing laser hair removal was authored by the group at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1998...
, laser skin treatments, tattoo removal, and facial
Facial
A facial is a procedure involving a variety of skin treatments, including: steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, facial masks, peels, and massage...
s.
In 1998, Faiello was charged with possession of a controlled substance
Controlled substance
A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use are regulated by a government. This may include illegal drugs and prescription medications ....
, forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
and possession of a forged instrument. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
count of possession of a forged instrument and was sentenced to three years' probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
. Faiello claimed on his professional website to hold a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree from RPI and the credential of Certified Professional Electrologist, despite it lapsing in 1998 after he failed to earn continuing education unit
Continuing education unit
A Continuing Education Unit is a measure used in continuing education programs, particularly those required in a licensed profession in order for the professional to maintain the license. Examples of people who need CEUs include interior designers/interior architects, lighting designers,...
s required to maintain certification.
On October 6, 2002, the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
published an investigation into Faiello titled "He'll Make Your Skin Crawl". He was arrested two days later on three counts of practicing medicine without a license, but was released on bail with the condition that he not continue to treat patients. Faiello subsequently began to see patients out of an apartment at 115 W. 16th Street.
Cruz death
On April 13, 2003, Filipino-AmericanFilipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
investment banker Maria Cruz had an appointment with Mr. Faiello for laser treatment of black hairy tongue. She went into convulsions
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
after he injected lidocaine
Lidocaine
Lidocaine , Xylocaine, or lignocaine is a common local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic drug. Lidocaine is used topically to relieve itching, burning and pain from skin inflammations, injected as a dental anesthetic or as a local anesthetic for minor surgery.- History :Lidocaine, the first amino...
into her tongue; Faiello contacted an acquaintance that was a physician and was told to rush Cruz an emergency room. Instead of seeking immediate medical aid, Faiello took Cruz's body in a large suitcase to his home (which formerly belonged to the internationally known opera singer Maria Jeritza
Maria Jeritza
Maria Jeritza , born Marie Jedličková, was a celebrated Moravian soprano singer, long associated with the Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera...
) in the Forest Hill
Forest Hill, Newark, New Jersey
Forest Hill is an affluent pre-World War II neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey's North Ward. It is bounded on the west by Branch Brook Park, on the south by Bloomfield Avenue , and on the east by both Summer and Mt. Prospect Avenues, the neighborhood of Broadway...
neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and buried her under the garage. Her body was found on February 18, 2004.
Faiello fled the country in September 2003, entering Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
on a three-month visa. He was arrested on February 26, 2004 at a resort in northwestern Costa Rica. He was imprisoned in Costa Rica and fought extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
, but was ultimately returned to the United States in May 2005 and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Ms. Cruz. He entered a plea agreement
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
by pleading guilty to first degree assault
Assault (tort)
In common law, assault is the tort of acting intentionally, that is with either general or specific intent, causing the reasonable apprehension of an immediate harmful or offensive contact. Because assault requires intent, it is considered an intentional tort, as opposed to a tort of negligence...
in exchange for a 20 year prison sentence.
Further reading
- "Nightmare on Elwood Avenue", Vanity FairVanity Fair (magazine)Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, June 2004 - Under the Knife: A Beautiful Woman, a Phony Doctor, and a Shocking Homicide, Diane FanningDiane Fanning-Early life and education:Fanning was born Diane Lynn Butcher in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Perry Hall High School, then Lynchburg College in Virginia, where she majored in chemistry.-Career:...
(St. Martin's Press, 2007)
