Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has revealed that eight additional individuals connected to a network of clinics in the Houston area have been indicted and arrested for allegedly conducting illegal abortions and practicing medicine without valid licenses.
These latest arrests follow the earlier apprehension of 49-year-old Maria Rojas in March. She is believed to have operated the clinics unlawfully, taking on the role of a midwife and later being referred to as “Dr. Maria.” Rojas faces 15 felony charges, which include 12 counts for illegal abortion and unauthorized medical practice.
The ongoing investigation led to the arrests of eight people: Yaymara Hernández Álvarez, Alina Valerón León, Daria Coromoto Yanez, Yonder Lebrun Acosta, Liunet Grandares Estrada, Gerardo Otero Aguero, Xavier Bosch Góngora, and Jose Manuel Cendão Rey. They were all charged with practicing medicine without a license under the network created by Rojas, with some of the individuals being foreign nationals.
“This group of abortion proponents operates illegal clinics with unlicensed personnel, putting in danger the very people they claim to assist,” Paxton stated. “Beyond being illegal, it’s immoral. We will not allow this network of fraudulent doctors to function in Texas. Those accountable will face justice, as I am committed to protecting innocent lives and will utilize any necessary means to enforce Texas’ pro-life legislation.”
According to the attorney general’s office, Rojas was allegedly impersonating a doctor while running clinics located in Waller, Cypress, Spring, and Katy. A court order has since barred her and her affiliated clinics from performing any medical procedures or abortions amid the legal proceedings.
Rojas’s arrest marked the first criminal case initiated under the state’s stringent abortion laws, as noted by Paxton.
In Texas, illegal abortions are classified as second-degree felonies, which can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Under the Texas Life Protection Act of 2021, the attorney general also has the authority to seek civil damages of no less than $100,000 for each violation of the abortion laws.
