Eight individuals have been arrested and indicted in connection with what authorities describe as an illegal abortion network operating across the Houston area. The arrests stem from an ongoing investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton into clinics allegedly owned and managed by Maria Rojas, a midwife known locally as “Dr. Maria.”
Rojas, who owned several clinics across the region, was first arrested in March and later indicted on 15 felony counts in June — marking the first criminal case brought under Texas’ near-total abortion ban, enacted after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the eight people indicted this week are accused of “providing illegal abortions and practicing medicine without proper medical licenses.” The individuals named in the indictments are Gerardo Otero Aguero, Yaimara Hernandez Alvarez, Alina Valeron Leon, Yhonder Lebrun Acosta, Jose Manuel Cendan Ley, Liunet Grandales Estrada, Dalia Coromoto Yanez, and Sabiel Bosch Gongora.
Paxton said several of those arrested are not U.S. citizens and accused them of endangering women through unlicensed medical practices.
“This cabal of abortion-loving radicals has been running illegal clinics staffed with unlicensed individuals who endangered the very people they pretended to help,” Paxton stated in a press release issued Wednesday. “Beyond being illegal, it is evil. These dens of fake doctors will not be allowed to operate in Texas. Those responsible will be held accountable.”
Rojas’ alleged abortion network reportedly operated out of three clinics: Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring, and Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress. Following her arrest, the Office of the Attorney General’s Healthcare Program Enforcement Division obtained a temporary restraining order against the clinics to halt further alleged violations.
Prosecutors claim Rojas and her associates performed abortions without medical licenses or proper oversight, in direct violation of Texas’ Human Life Protection Act, the 2021 “trigger ban” that took effect after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Under the law, performing an abortion in Texas is a felony except in limited cases involving medical emergencies.
Paxton’s office has also sought civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation, citing Rojas’ alleged disregard for state law.
“Texas law holds abortion providers criminally responsible for unlawful procedures,” Paxton said. “Rojas was the first person to be charged under this new law.”
The eight individuals are currently awaiting court appearances. No trial dates have been set as of Thursday.
