NORFOLK, VA. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Virginia, Eastern), published as received.

NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake woman pled guilty to wire fraud in relation to falsely representing her credentials to provide hair and tattoo removal by laser.

According to court documents, Hayley Nicole Atwood, 33, was licensed by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation as a basic esthetician. Beginning in at least 2017, Atwood consistently falsely purported to be a master esthetician to colleagues and potential customers. Under Virginia law, master estheticians may perform more advanced procedures such as laser hair removal or laser tattoo removal, but only if properly trained and supervised by a licensed physician or physician assistant.

Atwood owned and operated esthetics spas in Chesapeake, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina. In March and April of 2021, Atwood purchased two Spectrum Laser devices for her spas. Atwood employed a medical director from December 2019 through July 2021 and a second medical director from July 2021 through November 2022. Neither medical director ever supervised or authorized Atwood or anyone at her business to perform laser tattoo removal. The second director supervised laser hair removal but never evaluated Atwood or her staff or saw her patients. Atwood consistently advertised, offered, and performed laser tattoo and hair removal. Several of Atwood’s clients suffered injury as a result of her laser treatments, including burning and scarring.

Atwood is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2027, and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Marie Maguire, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office; and Col. Jeffrey S. Katz, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen S. Taylor and Rebecca Gantt are prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-83.