MIAMI -- A man known to some as the "Butcher of South Beach"
pleaded guilty Wednesday as part of a plea deal courtesy of his
alleged victims.
Reinaldo Silvestre is accused of performing plastic surgery
without a license. Silvestre was considered one of Miami Beach's top
10 fugitives after he fled the country for Belize. Silvestre was
arrested when an American tourist in the country recognized him from
the TV show "America's Most Wanted."
Spencer Aronfeld, the lawyer for three alleged victims of Silvestre,
said one of his clients, a male bodybuilder and former Mr. Mexico,
wanted pumped-up pectorals but came out of surgery performed by
Silvestre with what looked like women's breasts.
"So this big bodybuilder from Mexico wakes up from this surgery
expecting to look like Tarzan and instead he looks like Pamela
(Anderson Lee), Dolly Parton," Aronfeld said.
Silvestre pleaded guilty Wednesday to that crime and others. He had
faced up to 45 years in prison but, as part of a bargain with the
alleged victims, will serve only seven years in prison and then
another 30 years on probation.
Aronfeld said his clients agreed to the seven-year deal so they
could move forward with a civil suit against Silvestre.
"Each person is asking for an excess of $10 million," Aronfeld said.
Silvestre, nicknamed the "Butcher of South Beach," operated in a
medical clinic in the late 1990s in Miami Beach. He offered low
rates and dealt primarily with immigrants who wanted plastic
surgery, Llamas reported.
"Breast augmentation can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000.
Silvestre was offering it for $2,0000, $3,000," Aronfeld said.
Clients began to complain to authorities when there were problems
with their results.
"Mr. Silvestre cut these people with a scalpel, but it's no
different than if he cut them with a knife in a back alley of South
Beach. He's a criminal and he's going to spend time behind bars,"
Aronfeld said.
Silvestre's lawyers could not be reached for comment.
Aronfeld said that even if he wins the civil suit, he is not sure
how his clients could collect the money, which could be more than
$30 million.
