A fugitive plastic surgeon, dubbed "Dr. Frankenstein," has claimed that officials at the Brazilian consulate in Miami aided his escape from the United States to avoid trial for allegedly botched surgeries and fraud. Joao Araujo, 57, stated in a podcast interview that he received support from both Brazilian federal police and the Brazilian embassy in Miami to facilitate his departure on August 1.
Araujo surrendered his passport as a condition of his pretrial release in Florida, where he faced 14 felony counts including grand theft, practicing medicine without a license, and fraud. He told the podcast host that he cut off his electronic ankle monitor and then traveled by boat to the Bahamas before flying to Rio de Janeiro. He described the police detective assigned to his case as an "idiot."
"Any idiot knows how to leave the United States. I had all the support of the Brazilian consulate," Araujo bragged in the interview, a portion of which was provided to The Post. He alleged that he was issued a new Brazilian passport to enable his international travel. He also suggested he was a victim of political persecution by the Trump administration, citing a personal clash with a State Department envoy and claims that his wife, former model Amanda Ungaro, possesses sensitive information about former First Lady Melania Trump. However, Araujo was being prosecuted by a Democrat-led state attorney's office, and his former patients have accused him of disfigurement.
Araujo's escape and his claims of diplomatic assistance come amid a significant souring of U.S.-Brazil relations. Tensions have escalated in recent months over issues including trade tariffs, sanctions against a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, and disputes over visa and diplomat accreditation. Brazil had previously withheld accreditation for the incoming U.S. ambassador and denied visas for State Department officials, leading to retaliatory visa cancellations by the U.S.
Legal experts suggest that if Araujo's claims are true, the direct assistance of diplomats in a fugitive's flight would constitute a serious breach of diplomatic status. Such actions could lead to diplomats being declared persona non grata under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. While diplomats generally have immunity, a country can waive it, though there is no indication Brazil intends to do so in this case.
Araujo's wife, Amanda Ungaro, previously self-deported after being detained for overstaying her visa. She has claimed that U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli, her former romantic partner, initiated her legal troubles. Ungaro has also reportedly made allegations connected to Zampolli and Jeffrey Epstein to congressional Democrats. Melania Trump publicly denied any connection to Epstein after Ungaro made insinuations on social media.
The Brazilian embassy in Washington stated it does not handle consular matters, and the Miami consulate did not respond to requests for comment. Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement indicating they do not disclose personal information regarding citizens seeking consular assistance and that passport issuance follows Brazilian law. They also noted that border control matters in the U.S. are outside the Brazilian government's responsibilities.
Araujo indicated in the podcast that he plans to live and work in Europe. Zampolli commented that while Brazil might protect its citizens from extradition, an Interpol warrant would be necessary for international safety.