Miami-Dade authorities have arrested a mother and daughter duo for allegedly operating an unlicensed post-surgery recovery home, marking the second time the mother has been accused of the same crime.
Investigators with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) took Monica Garcia, 47, and Laura Garcia, 24, into custody on Wednesday morning after executing a search warrant at a residence located at SW 143rd Court and SW 24th Street.
Authorities claim the Garcias were illegally running a post-cosmetic surgery recovery facility without proper licensing while also violating hazardous waste regulations by failing to dispose of biomedical waste safely.
Monica Garcia was previously arrested in June 2023 for the same offense but was allowed to complete a pre-trial diversion program after prosecutors decided not to move forward with the case. However, officials say she resumed the operation, this time alongside her daughter.
A social media page for Garcia’s business, Oasis Retreat Miami, promoted luxury recovery services for women post-surgery, with videos showing clients being transported to recovery homes and resting with bandages and surgical drains. The business claimed to provide professional post-operative care, but a spokesperson for Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) confirmed there is no valid license under Garcia’s name or her company.
Investigators raided the property on January 23, discovering five post-surgery patients inside, along with unlicensed staff working at the facility. However, Monica Garcia was not present at the time.
When arrested Wednesday, Garcia reportedly told officers, “Half of Miami is doing this, and you are coming after me.”
Detectives warn that these illegal facilities falsely advertise medical-grade recovery services, putting patients at serious risk. Officials say current laws are too limited to effectively prevent such operations from spreading across South Florida.
The investigation remains ongoing.
