For Immediate Release March 18, 2008                                     
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 617-679-6522

Luiz Carlos Ribeiro Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter, Drug Charge In Connection With Framingham Illegal Liposuction Case 

CAMBRIDGE – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today that a Brazilian man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and drug charges in connection with the death of a 24-year-old Framingham woman, FabiolaDePaula, upon whom he and his wife performed an illegal liposuction procedure in July 2006.

Luiz Carlos Ribeiro, 51, pleaded guilty today in Cambridge Superior Court to charges of involuntary manslaughter, practicing medicine without a license (two counts), and possession of a class C substance.  Judge Wendie Gershengorn sentenced Ribeiro to 2.5 – 3 years in State Prison with one year in the House of Correction to be served concurrently. Ribeiro currently has a federal immigration detainer placed on him by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Commonwealth sought a 6-8 year State Prison sentence.

“Luiz Carlos Ribeiro recklessly put the lives of his patients in great danger – performing these illegal procedures on members of the Brazilian community without the proper equipment, medications, or safeguards,” District Attorney Leone said. “As a result of his reckless actions, Fabiola DePaula tragically lost her life under all too preventable circumstances. Mr. Ribeiro has now admitted to his guilt and his responsibility for Fabiola’s death.”  

According to authorities, on Sunday, July 30, 2006, Fabiola B. DePaula was brought to MetroWest Medical Center – Framingham Union Campus in Framingham.  DePaula was unconscious and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.  Framingham Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to the hospital and commenced an investigation into the death.  After an investigation, it was determined that Luiz Carlos Ribeiro and Ana Maria Miranda Ribeiro administered illegally obtained narcotics and performed a surgical procedure on DePaula in the basement of a residence in Framingham.  Neither was licensed to practice medicine in Massachusetts. 

The Ribeiros were arrested in the early morning hours of Monday, July 31, 2006, in connection with the incident.  Because the cause of death was undetermined, they were only charged with the illegal practice of medicine and related narcotics charges at that time.  The Ribeiros were both arraigned on July 31, in Framingham District Court before Judge Robert Greco.  At that time, Luiz Carlos Ribeiro was charged with unauthorized practice of medicine, distribution of a class A substance, distribution of a class C substance, possession of a class C substance, and illegal possession of a hypodermic needle.  His wife, Ana Maria Miranda Ribeiro, was charged with unauthorized practice of medicine, distribution of a class A substance, and distribution of a class C substance.  Both pleaded not guilty.  Luiz Carlos Ribeiro was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail, and Ana Maria Miranda Ribeiro was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail.  In addition, both were ordered to surrender their passports to the Probation Department.

On Thursday, August 17, 2006, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (ME) completed its autopsy of DePaula.  The ME found the cause of death to be intra-operative complications (including pulmonary fat emboli) of a liposuction procedure performed for cosmetic effect, and ruled the death a homicide.  The ME determined that DePaula’s death occurred as a result of an illegal liposuction procedure.  Authorities alleged that all the circumstances surrounding this procedure amount to wanton and reckless behavior on the part of both Luiz Carlo Ribeiro and Ana Maria Miranda Ribeiro. 

On August 18, 2006, authorities from the Framingham Police department, working with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and State Police, sought and obtained complaints from Framingham District Court charging Luiz Carlos Ribeiro and Ana Maria Miranda Ribeiro with manslaughter.  They were arraigned on the new charges in Framingham District Court, on August 25, 2006, before Judge Robert Greco.  Both pleaded not guilty and were ordered held on the same bail set at their previous arraignment. 

On October 24, 2006, a Middlesex Grand Jury returned indictments against the Riberios. Luiz Carlos Ribeiro, age 49, was charged with manslaughter, distribution of a class A substance (2 counts), distribution of a class E substance, practicing medicine without a license (2 counts), and possession of a class C substance.  Ana Maria Miranda Ribeiro, age 49, was charged with manslaughter, and distribution of a class A substance (2 counts).  They were arraigned on the charges on November 1, 2006, in courtroom 8B of the Middlesex Superior Court in Cambridge before Judge Wendie Gershengorn.  Both pleaded not guilty.  Luiz Carlos Ribeiro was ordered held on $250,000 bail.  Ana Maria Miranda Ribeiro was also ordered held on $250,000 bail.

On September 5, 2007, Ana Maria Miranda Ribeiro, age 50, pleaded guilty in Cambridge Superior Court to charges of involuntary manslaughter and distribution of a class A substance (2 counts). Judge Wendie Gershengorn sentenced Ribeiro to one year to one year and a day committed in state prison, concurrent on all charges. Ribeiro received approximately 11 months credit for the time she had already served in state custody. Upon completion of her state prison sentence, Ribeiro was to be turned over to federal custody on a federal detainer so that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) could begin deportation proceedings.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Lee Hettinger.

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