"Evelyn Cruz, 43, had faced over 50 felony charges following her arrest in January 2025. But prosecutors with Florida's Office of Statewide Prosecution dropped most of the charges, and on Tuesday, she pleaded no contest to only one count of grand theft and one count of proprietorshop by non-dentists, Palm Beach County court records show."
"State investigators said in a probable cause affidavit that the Florida government had originally denied Cruz a business license she had sought because she is not a dentist. Then, beginning in 2012, she began opening dental practices in Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines and Doral under the names of actual licensed dentists. At first, the affidavit said, many of the dentists Cruz listed did not know that their names were being used."
Evelyn Cruz, 43, faced over 50 felony charges after a January 2025 arrest, but prosecutors dropped most charges. She pleaded no contest to one count of grand theft and one count of proprietorshop by non-dentists and was credited for 28 days already served, sentenced to 28 days in jail, 48 months of probation, and ordered to pay restitution. Investigators said she began opening dental practices in 2012 under the names of licensed dentists and later used Dr. Ivan Pelton's name while remaining the true owner and operator. Between 2019 and 2024 the offices billed insurers over $11 million, and new owners found over 80 patients charged for work not performed, many aged 65 or older. In 2021 Cruz and her husband used over $500,000 from the practices to buy a $1.8 million beachside home.
Read at Sun Sentinel
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