What looked like a trendy spa treatment was actually part of a dangerous black-market scheme. On September 18, 2025, the Southern Ohio Organized and Major Crimes Task Force—working with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, Scioto and Pike County Sheriff’s Offices, Pike County Prosecutor’s Office, Waverly Police, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction—executed multiple search warrants in Pike and Scioto Counties.
Investigators say unapproved drugs were being peddled to customers as wellness and skincare treatments—advertised as a way to melt fat and boost energy. In reality, the injections were obtained illegally on the black market, carried serious health risks, and were designed to generate hefty profits for those selling them.
Arrest and Spa Connection
Haley Borders, of Otway, Scioto County, was arrested on indictments filed in Pike County. Authorities seized evidence at multiple locations tied to the operation. On Facebook, Borders lists herself as the owner of a Waverly spa that offered popular “wellness” injections such as Lipo-Mino, Tri Immune, and B12. The spa’s advertising claimed the treatments could “effortlessly burn fat, increase energy, and support your weight loss journey.”
But Borders is listed only as an aesthetician—not a licensed medical provider. According to the FDA, no fat-dissolving injections are approved for use in the United States. The agency warns that unapproved substances like these can cause infections, painful knots, cysts, deformities, and even permanent scarring.
The Weight-Loss Shot Boom
This case comes as weight-loss injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have exploded in popularity across the country. Legitimate versions require a prescription and are tightly regulated. That demand has created a black market for “lookalike” products sold in spas or online as a quick fix for slimming down. Experts warn that patients are often promised miracle results but may instead receive dangerous, unregulated substances.
The Southern Ohio Organized and Major Crimes Task Force credited the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for providing two K9 units during the searches. Officials say the case remains under investigation, with additional charges possible in both Pike and Scioto Counties.
