NORTH MIAMI BEACH – A man who said he was
a holistic healer and who ran a holistic/acupuncture center
out of his North Miami Beach home was arrested and police
are asking anyone else who felt that the services provided
at the center were inappropriate to contact detectives.
Hoa Nguyen was arrested on two counts of battery after he
inappropriately touched a female patient. They also said
Nguyen, 76, had been providing acupuncture services without
a license for several years.
The woman had been receiving acupuncture treatments from
Nguyen at the defendant’s home twice a week since June, she
told police. On Aug. 11 at 6 p.m., the woman went to her
scheduled appointment and entered the treatment room where
she removed her shirt. She told police, as was usually the
case, she kept her underwear, including a bra, and her skirt
on.
The victim said the Nguyen provided acupuncture to her back
and lifted her skirt to access the back of her legs. He
returned an hour after the treatment to remove the needles.
The victim said he then unhooked her bra to “rub the
puncture areas to reduce swelling” and told the woman to
roll onto her back. He then began to fondle her and told her
“You are a beautiful woman,” the victim said.
The victim said that he also began touching her beneath her
skirt and underwear. In an effort to leave the room, she
told Nguyen she needed to use the bathroom. As she grabbed
for her belongings, Nguyen told her that she could “walk
naked to the bathroom” since no one else was there. She told
police that was when she realized they were the only two
people in the home and at previous times when she had been
there, other patients were at the house.
After contacting police, the victim returned to Nguyen for
another appointment equipped with a recording device. On
Aug. 24, she had a conversation with Nguyen where he
admitted to touching areas of her body “as part of her
treatment.” Detectives from the North Miami Beach police
department were parked across the street and were able to
hear the conversation through the device.
The victim told police that she did not give Nguyen consent
to remove her underwear and skirt and that the defendant
touched her against her will.
Nyguen was arrested at the home two days later.
Anyone who has concerns about their interactions with Nguyen
should call North Miami Police detectives at (305) 948-2940,
ext. 2834