Girl billed with faking qualifications as dental hygienist in South Bay
2 min read
SAN JOSE — An Arizona woman has been criminally charged with lying about her qualifications and utilizing stolen identities to work as a dental hygienist in the South Bay for at least 5 a long time, in accordance to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Place of work.
Elizabeth “Mina” Larijani, 50, is billed with 16 felony and misdemeanor counts based mostly on allegations she lied about remaining a condition-licensed dental assistant or hygienist involving 2015 and 2020. According to prosecutors’ official grievance and investigative summary, she possibly labored at or applied to 11 dental offices in San Jose and Campbell.
Larijani — who also goes by Elizabeth Garcia Costilla — was arrested in Glendale, Arizona and extradited to San Jose past week. She was initially in jail custody on $40,000 bail, but she was released Monday and ordered to return to court docket June 13.
The Dental Cleanliness Board of California started investigating Larijani in 2018 right after getting a criticism that she was misrepresenting her licensing and qualifications. The investigation discovered that in many occasions, she submitted in paperwork the license figures of two dental hygienists who ended up unaware their licenses had been getting employed. Authorities allege that whenever the problem of licensing came up in depth, she was evasive then remaining and went on to apply to or get the job done at yet another business.
By allegedly lying about her status, Larijani bypassed needs that she comprehensive an accredited schooling software and pass examinations done by the dental cleanliness board.
The board investigators offered their findings to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Business office in 2019. Soon after the workplace executed its individual investigation, prosecutors in 2020 submitted 13 felony charges against Larijani alleging tax fraud and identification theft, and a few misdemeanor prices of working towards dental cleanliness work without the need of a license.
When Larijani was located and arrested in Arizona, she was reportedly actively performing as a dental hygienist.
“The previous factor anyone needs to be worrying about is irrespective of whether the particular person cleansing their enamel, or making use of anesthetics, is licensed to do that perform,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen explained in a statement.
Neither a news release Tuesday about the expenses, nor the investigative summary accompanying the prison criticism, depth any physical damage allegedly brought about by Larijani. The investigation cited at minimum one particular dentist who was contented with Larijani’s do the job. It was not right away clear in court data what variety of instruction and follow Larijani experienced finished.
Nevertheless, prosecutors are seeking prospective victims who might have endured bodily hurt beneath her care. Anyone with info for authorities can speak to DA Investigator Krissi Durant at 408-792-2567.
