Turning Point USA

Joey Grant Luther, aesthetician and founder of JGL Aesthetics (located in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan) has been indicted on several charges for injecting fake Botox into his patients, some of whom received severe illnesses after injections, according to a Southern District of New York (SDNY) complaint filed on January 20, 2025.

Despite being aware of illnesses resulting from his services, Luther continued injecting the same counterfeit Botox into clients until his arrest on January 20. The injections were allegedly provided from April 2023 to July 2024. 

The SDNY press release describes how one of Luther’s clients (called “Victim-1” in the complaint) reacted to an injection. The victim promptly informed him of her body’s reaction to the injection. Victim-1 was eventually diagnosed with Botulism toxin, an illness which can lead to severe health issues, including paralysis and death. The press release states: 

“Approximately three days after Victim-1’s February 27, 2024, visit to JGL Aesthetics, Victim-1 began experiencing double vision, light headedness, difficulty swallowing and chewing, heart palpitations, and slurring of speech. Victim-1 also could not lift her arms and experienced weakness from the waist up. Victim-1 went to three hospitals to seek medical assistance for these symptoms. On or about March 20, 2024, Victim-1 was diagnosed with Botulism toxin.”

In addition to Victim-1, other clients who received injections reported similar reactions. According to the press release, Luther dismissed his clients’ concerns over their health issues, assuring them the side effects were temporary: 

“In response to these complaints, LUTHER typically assured his clients that the side effects were temporary, represented that he was unaware that counterfeit Botox had been found circulating in the U.S., and assured clients that the Counterfeit Botox was from Allergan, the veritable maker.  As alleged, LUTHER was well aware that the Counterfeit Botox was, in fact, counterfeit.”

The complaint states that a full offering of services was not available on the JGL Aesthetics website. Law enforcement discovered that, through iPads Luther provided to clients, a more detailed “menu of services” including “injectables,” was available. This menu was also sent to clients through text. Ultimately, these actions resulted in Luther getting charged with wire fraud. 

Moreover, Luther does not have a medical license, which is a legal requirement for aestheticians who provide Botox injection services. This is likely the reason why those services were not listed on his public website. On top of wire fraud, the aesthetician has been charged with “smuggling, and other crimes related to misbranded and counterfeit drugs.” If Luther is charged on each count, his prison time could amount to over 50 years.

On January 22, Luther was released from jail on a $100,000 bail. According to the New York Post, his release was based on the following conditions: 

“US Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave ordered Luther released on the condition that he surrender his existing aesthetics license — which already bars him from doing Botox treatments — and put up the Miami Beach home as collateral.”