Unlicensed Miami Surgeon Joao Batista Cunha De Araujo Disappears Before Trial

<p>Joao Batista Cunha De Araujo, a 57-year-old Brazilian national accused of performing plastic surgeries without a license in Miami, has reportedly vanished days before his trial, which was set to address more than a dozen charges related to theft, fraud, and practicing medicine without credentials, according to authorities.</p><p>Araujo faces 14 charges, 13 of which are felonies, in Miami-Dade County, as detailed in an arrest warrant reviewed by Fox News Digital. His arrest followed anonymous tips that led to a sting operation at his office, where an undercover detective allegedly received a quote for chin liposuction.</p><p>Authorities in Miami-Dade confirmed that Araujo surrendered his passport following a court order and was placed on an ankle monitor while awaiting trial. However, he has since disappeared.</p><p>Local authorities have referred inquiries about his whereabouts to the U.S. Marshals and the Brazilian government, neither of which provided immediate comments. Court documents indicate that Araujo's ankle monitor generated a tamper alert on August 1, three days before his trial was scheduled to begin.</p><p>Two officers responded to his last known location in a high-rise on the Bay Harbor Islands, just north of Miami Beach, but were unable to locate Araujo or the ankle monitor. Consequently, his house arrest was revoked, and a Miami judge issued a new arrest warrant and authorized full extradition.</p><p>Araujo's attorney, Mark Eiglarsh, stated that he was still reviewing discovery in the case and suggested that the trial date would likely have been postponed. He noted, "My client previously entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and I was prepared to vigorously challenge the allegations brought by the prosecution. For reasons unknown to me, he has chosen to make himself unavailable to continue fighting for his innocence. If he ever reappears, I will continue to fight zealously on his behalf."</p><p>A report from the New York Post, citing four sources close to the case, suggests that Araujo may have left the country for Brazil, raising questions about how he managed to do so after surrendering his passport.</p><p>Araujo's wife and co-defendant, Amanda Soares Felizardo Ungaro, 41, posted a video on social media that appears to show Araujo smiling and sitting with her at a restaurant. The timing and location of the video are unclear. She faces seven charges related to the case against her husband and was deported earlier this year.</p><p>Araujo had previously requested the court's permission to return to Brazil while awaiting trial, but Judge Tanya Brinkley denied the request due to concerns that he would not return to Florida.</p><p>According to a police affidavit, the Florida Department of Health confirmed that neither Araujo nor Ungaro held any medical license in the state.</p><p>At least one patient has reported injuries from a botched procedure performed by Araujo. A victim identified as "AJ" informed police that she received lip and jaw filler injections from Araujo, resulting in lumps in her lips, jaw, and cheekbone. Initially, she paid $15,000 for the procedure, which was later reduced to $7,000. She subsequently sought assistance from a licensed plastic surgeon.</p>