In May 2004, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted Maria Torres, an unlicensed “folk doctor” who was treating patients out of her residence in Santa Ana for all types of ailments.  The defendant was injecting and prescribing medications obtained illegally from Mexico.  In addition, the defendant was performing traditional Mexican rituals on patients such as placing a burning candle on the patient’s body, covering it with a glass and rubbing it in a circular motion.  Fortunately, there was no report of injury to any patient.  As a result of this prosecution, the defendant pleaded guilty to two felony counts of unlawful practice of medicine, sentenced to six months jail, and placed on three years of formal probation.