A Flushing-based cosmetologist is facing serious legal trouble after being slammed with assault charges for providing unauthorized beauty treatments, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced. Fei Min, 41, stands accused of injecting clients with unknown substances while falsely claiming to administer Botox and collagen, among other treatments she was not licensed to perform.

During an arraignment yesterday, Min was hit with two counts of assault in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the second degree, and although she once held a cosmetology license, unauthorized practice was also among the charges for operating beyond her professional scope, her individual license had expired and did not cover the administration of injections or microneedling. According to a statement from the Queens District Attorney's Office, Judge Anthony Battisti has scheduled her next court appearance for April 9, and Min could face up to seven years in prison if convicted of these charges.

One victim in particular, a 57-year-old woman, detailed a series of painful reactions following treatments at Princess Beauty, Inc., where Min conducted her business, ranged from redness and swelling to bleeding and scarring, ultimately resulting in the woman's neck being disfigured, the alleged malpractice spanned over three years, starting in June 2021, where the victim sought various skin-enhancing procedures, including microneedling, collagen, and purported stem cell injections.

This case emerged from a collaborative investigation led by the New York State Department of State and the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions with assistance from NYPD Detective Anthony Guerriero of the Queens District Attorney’s Squad and is prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Hana C. Kim, mechanisms for such investigations are vital laying bare the risks of entrusting one's health to uncredentialed hands, with DA Katz urging anyone harmed to reach out to their consumer fraud helpline and cautioning the public to vet credentials before undergoing cosmetic procedures.