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Sandra Yi Reporting A man from Thailand is now in the Salt Lake County jail after being on the run for more than a year. He's accused of performing surgeries without a license.
Federal authorities arrested the man at the Los Angeles International Airport last week, and brought him back to Utah to face criminal charges. They believe he came back to the U.S. to perform more surgeries.
Investigators say, Atiwat Phuwieng doesn't have a license to practice medicine. But they say, that didn't stop him from traveling to Salt Lake twice a year to perform cosmetic eye and nose surgeries. Most of his patients were Thai and Vietnamese immigrants, living in the West Valley City area. Many of them found him through word of mouth.
Authorities say Phuwieng would perform his surgeries in low-cost motel rooms or patients' homes. But after the procedures, some patients contracted severe infections. At least one had to be hospitalized.
Patrick Kiernan/FBI: "I think most of it was financial reasons, that they didn't have the money to go to a professional doctor to have this done. He was offering this at a much less expensive rate."
Phuwieng has been on the run, and in Thailand, since December 2004. He is now charged with three counts of unlawful, unprofessional conduct, a third degree felony.
If convicted, he faces up to 14 years in prison and 15 thousand dollars in fines. Authorities say he was also prescribing medication after the surgeries.
The FBI wants to talk to anyone who knows the suspect, or if you were a patient of his, give them a call.
