Woman accused of operating unlicensed post-surgery recovery home in South Miami, improperly disposing of medical waste

SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. — A woman surrendered to authorities Friday after investigators say she operated an unlicensed post-surgical recovery home out of a South Miami home and improperly disposed of biohazardous medical waste.

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According to a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Ilse Johanna Guevara, 49, surrendered herself at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after an investigation by the agency’s Medical Crimes Unit.

Detectives said they obtained a search warrant for a home at 6174 SW 64th Terrace in South Miami, where a business identified as Elite Home LLC, also known as Divine Care, was allegedly operating as an unlicensed assisted living facility for post-cosmetic surgery patients.

When investigators executed the search warrant, they found six post-operative patients and three employees inside the home, authorities said.

According to the arrest report, the patients told investigators they were receiving assistance with daily living activities, including bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, personal hygiene and medication management.

Patients said they paid Guevara between $300 and $350 per night to stay at the residence and receive those services, the report stated.

According to the report, employees told detectives they worked 24-hour shifts and were paid $10 to $18 per hour through Zelle to care for the patients.

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A records check with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) found that the home was not licensed to operate as an assisted living facility, according to the report.

Detectives said they also discovered improperly discarded biohazardous medical waste generated by the business.

According to the arrest report, investigators found biohazardous waste inside unlocked green City of South Miami garbage bins that had been placed at the curb for pickup. Additional medical waste was found inside the home in trash bags awaiting disposal, authorities said.

Detectives said there were no locked biohazard waste containers or red biohazard receptacles on the property, as required for the proper handling of medical waste.

Guevara faces charges of operating an assisted living facility without a license, violating Florida’s Litter Law, hazardous waste violation, nuisances injurious to health and failing to track biomedical waste.

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As of Friday afternoon, Guevara remained held at TGK on a $7,800 bond.