Chesapeake Esthetician Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Unlicensed Laser Treatments

NORFOLK, Va. – Hayley Nicole Atwood, 33, a Chesapeake resident, has pled guilty to wire fraud charges stemming from her false representation of professional credentials to provide laser hair and tattoo removal services.

Court documents reveal that Atwood was licensed by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation solely as a basic esthetician. However, beginning at least in 2017, she consistently misrepresented herself as a master esthetician to colleagues and potential customers. Under Virginia law, only master estheticians who are properly trained and supervised by a licensed physician or physician assistant may perform advanced procedures such as laser hair removal or laser tattoo removal.

Atwood owned and operated esthetic spas located in Chesapeake, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. In March and April 2021, she purchased two Spectrum Laser devices for use at these spas.

From December 2019 through July 2021, Atwood employed a medical director, followed by a second medical director from July 2021 through November 2022. Neither medical director supervised or authorized Atwood or her staff to perform laser tattoo removal. Although the second medical director oversaw laser hair removal, they never evaluated Atwood, her staff, or her patients.

Despite lacking proper authorization and supervision, Atwood regularly advertised, offered, and performed laser tattoo and hair removal treatments. Several clients suffered injuries from these procedures, including burns and scarring.

Atwood is scheduled for sentencing on March 5, 2027. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The announcement followed the acceptance of Atwood’s plea by U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen S. Taylor and Rebecca Gantt.

The investigation involved collaboration among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office, and the Virginia State Police. The announcement was made by Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Marie Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations; and Col. Jeffrey S. Katz, Superintendent of Virginia State Police.

Court documents and additional information are available through the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or via PACER under Case No. 2:26-cr-83.

Official reference: View the original document.