Three suspects accused of performing unlawful abortions in the Houston area, including one illegal alien, have been arrested.
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrests of Maria Margarita Rojas, known as “Dr. Maria,” and illegal alien Jose Manuel Cendan Ley for allegedly performing unlawful abortions and practicing medicine without a license.
Ley, a Cuban national, was granted parole under a Biden administration mass parole program.
This follows the earlier arrest of nurse practitioner Rubildo Labanino Matos, whose license is on probation with the Board of Nursing, according to officials. He was charged with conspiracy to practice medicine without a license.
The three face felony charges related to the operation of Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring.
According to the attorney general’s office, unlicensed individuals masqueraded as medical professionals in the clinics.
Rojas is accused of performing illegal abortion procedures in her clinics in direct violation of the Texas Human Life Protection Act. She faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Practicing medicine without a license carries a 10-year sentence.
“In Texas, life is sacred. I will always do everything in my power to protect the unborn, defend our state’s pro-life laws, and work to ensure that unlicensed individuals endangering the lives of women by performing illegal abortions are fully prosecuted,” said Paxton.
Paxton’s office has filed for a restraining order to close the clinics and is pursuing civil penalties under the law, which levies fines of at least $100,000 per violation.
Texas law holds abortionists, but not their clients, criminally responsible for unlawful procedures.
Texas Right to Life President John Seago said in response to the arrests, “Abortionists haven’t given up their fight for Texas; they’ve gone online and underground. God made every child in His image. That’s why preborn babies killed in illegal abortions deserve justice.”
Last year, Paxton took legal action to block a New York doctor illegally providing abortion drugs across state lines.
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