Overview
- A judge sentenced Vivian Gomez to four years in state prison on Monday after a March jury convicted her of felony involuntary manslaughter and practicing medicine without a license.
- Prosecutors say Gomez flew from Florida to a Burlingame hotel on April 19, 2023, and administered illegal gluteal silicone injections to Christina Ashten Gourkani, who fell ill and died the next day from respiratory failure and a pulmonary embolism.
- The court denied Gomez probation, ordered her to remain in custody, and recorded that she does not plan to appeal; a restitution hearing is scheduled for July 20.
- Medical experts and prosecutors noted that infection and silicone found in Gourkani’s bloodstream were factors in her death, illustrating known dangers such as infection, material migration, and embolism when unapproved substances are injected.
- Regulators warn against injectable silicone for large‑scale body contouring and the case underscores how demand for low‑cost, influencer‑style procedures can drive a risky underground market that crosses state lines and complicates enforcement.