Florida Agency for Health Care Administration

Ilse Johanna Guevara, 49, surrendered to authorities for operating an unlicensed post-surgery recovery home in South Miami under the names Elite Home LLC and Divine Care. Investigators found six patients, three employees, and improperly discarded biohazardous medical waste at the location. Guevara faces charges including operating an unlicensed facility, hazardous waste violations, and littering.

A study by The Trace and KFF Health News reveals that uninsured gunshot wound victims in Florida hospitals are discharged significantly faster than insured patients, with some staying half as long. The analysis of hospital data from 2018 to 2024 shows uninsured patients, like Alea Bates who was shot seven times, often receive less comprehensive care and face barriers to rehabilitation due to financial constraints.

A yearlong investigation by The Trace and KFF Health News reveals that uninsured gunshot victims in Florida have shorter hospital stays compared to insured patients. Uninsured patients averaged six days in the hospital, about three-quarters of the time for those with private insurance and less than half for Medicaid patients. Black patients were highly overrepresented, comprising nearly half of all gunshot wound hospitalizations.

Kerri Smith, also known as Kerri Pierre, operated an unlicensed post-cosmetic surgery assisted living facility business called Snatched ‘n Curved, which faced complaints about poor conditions and illegal operations. Miami-Dade deputies arrested her after a months-long investigation, alongside co-defendant Crystal White, who was also charged for running unlicensed facilities. Smith faces 15 charges, including fraud and health-safety violations, with prosecutors alleging over $200,000 in customer payments.