Local digest

VIRGINIA

Pair accused of unlicensed dentistry

A Dumfries woman, who police say was operating as a dentist out of a house in the Falls Church area, and her business associate were arrested last week and charged with performing an invasive procedure without a license, among other charges, Fairfax County police said Monday.

Police became aware of the activity in the 3000 block of Castle Road late last month when a woman reported it.

According to a search warrant affidavit, the Fairfax woman said she knew a man, later identified as Oscar Moran, who worked for a dental lab, and that he knew an unlicensed dentist who could help her "for a much cheaper price than a regular dentist."

On March 27, according to the affidavit written by Detective Doug Comfort, Moran drove the woman to the Castle Road address and introduced her to Amparo Rodriguez, 48.

Rodriguez performed a root canal, Comfort wrote. But two days later, the patient developed an infection.

Moran provided the patient with an antibiotic, Comfort's affidavit states, but the infection persisted and she had to seek treatment elsewhere.

On April 5, the woman led police to the house, where Moran was reportedly renting the basement. He and Rodriguez were present, Comfort wrote. In the basement, the officers discovered "an office consistent with a dentist . . . complete with a dental chair," the affidavit says.

Police arrested Moran, 54, and Rodriguez that day, Officer Bud Walker said.

In addition to the invasive-procedure charge, the two were charged with money laundering and a misdemeanor count of unauthorized distribution of a controlled substance.

-- Tom Jackman