Libby Adame

Summary

True Crime All The Time - Libby Adame

Episode 473 – February 19, 2026
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Gibson

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Episode Overview

This episode of True Crime All The Time dives into the disturbing true crime case of Libby Adame—also known as "Latia" or "The Butt Lady"—and her daughter Alyssa Galaz, a mother-daughter duo who spent over a decade offering illegal, black-market silicone butt injections in Los Angeles. Their budget procedures, heavily marketed via social media, resulted in dozens of disfigured women and at least three deaths. The hosts unpack the psychology behind the clientele, the dangers of unlicensed cosmetic surgery, the court trials, and the tragic fallout of a case emblematic of the social media age.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Lure of Social Media and Cheap Procedures

• Libby Adame and her daughter gained followers by offering "discount" butt enhancements ($3,000–$4,000 rather than $10,000–$15,000) advertised on Instagram.
• Hosts reflect on how social media has altered aspirations, with many young people prioritizing internet fame or appearance over traditional success paths.
• Quote [04:16] (Mike Gibson): “It’s all driven by image—it’s driven by image.”

2. Victims and the Deadly Procedures

• Their clients, mostly women, sought the "in look" made famous by celebrities (e.g., Kim Kardashian), often seeking validation and career advancement in industries like adult entertainment or influencing.
• Carissa Nicole Rajpaul, a 26-year-old influencer from South Africa, was among those who died after receiving illegal silicone injections at a private home.
• Quote [05:13] (Mike Ferguson): “I’m a little worried about finding your place to go based on an Instagram post.”

3. The Medical Dangers and FDA Warnings

• The hosts describe illegal, home-improvement grade silicone being injected into patients’ bodies—highly toxic and not medical-grade.
• They discuss FDA warnings (since 2017) against such procedures, noting severe risks: scarring, embolisms, tissue death, and death.
• Quote [12:13] (Mike Ferguson): “Carissa suffered acute cardiopulmonary dysfunction on the makeshift operating table that was set up in the house…Adame and Galaz called 911, but then they fled.”

4. Law Enforcement Response and Legal Outcomes

• It took LA police two years to connect Adame and Galaz to Carissa’s death, with over 50 victims coming forward following their arrest.
• The hosts debate the psychology and greed behind continuing the procedures despite mounting risks and deaths.
• Quote [15:38] (Mike Ferguson): “But you’re rolling the dice with another person’s life.”

5. The Trials and Sentencing

• In 2024, Adame and Galaz were convicted of involuntary manslaughter (not murder), drawing three years and eight months sentences—much of which was credited to electronic monitoring.
• The hosts are sharply critical of the light sentences, questioning if justice was served and whether such leniency emboldened further crimes.
• Quote [27:14] (Mike Ferguson): "They're convicted, but because you spent this much time at home wearing the ankle monitor, we're going to set you free."

6. Continued Crimes and Final Tragedy

• Despite warnings, Adame resumed her illegal practice after release. In 2025, she caused the death of actress Cindiana Santangelo, who died of a silicone embolism after a home injection.
• Adame again fled the scene, repeating her pattern of prioritizing self-preservation over her victims' welfare.
• Quote [34:02] (Mike Ferguson): “Adame left and took her bag with her. Cindiana was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.”

7. The Final Trial, Conviction, and Lasting Impact

• In 2025, Adame was tried and convicted of second-degree murder and practicing medicine without a license, receiving 15 years to life in prison.
• Victim impact statements (notably from Santangelo's son) emphasized the pain of preventable loss and the system’s prior failure to stop Adame.
• Quote [41:03] (Dante Santangelo, via court statement): "I don't think someone who has no regard for human life...should be allowed back on the street. Because clearly, this is something that's happened multiple times."

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Notable Quotes and Moments

• On cheap procedures and risk:
  [13:47] Mike Gibson: “You get what you pay for.”
• On the long history of practicing without a license:
  [20:48] Mike Ferguson: “They performed this procedure for about a decade. And like I said earlier, they built a following on social media.”
• On victim responsibility and due diligence:
  [44:41] Mike Ferguson: “I think for some people who are thinking about it, [doing your research] would be a good piece of advice...to make sure that whoever you're going to is licensed.”
• On the root cause:
  [45:20] Mike Ferguson: "And I think when you boil it down...it's just pure greed."

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Memorable Timestamps

• 02:24 — Introduction of Libby Adame as "Latia" and the "butt lady"
• 03:25 — Discussion of deaths and disfigurements resulting from illegal injections
• 11:05 — Details on use of hardware store silicone, not medical-grade
• 12:31 — Overview of FDA warnings and dangers of injectable silicone
• 15:29 — Side effects, risks, and complications per FDA
• 16:53 — More than 50 women report botched procedures after arrests
• 19:12 — Comparison of costs: board-certified vs. Adame's “discount” rates
• 26:27 — Adame and Galaz found guilty of involuntary manslaughter (2024)
• 29:39 — Adame causes the death of a third woman (Santangelo) after early release
• 34:02 — Adame flees after Santangelo’s medical crisis
• 40:47 — Adame convicted of second-degree murder (2025)
• 41:03 — Impact statement underscores the devastation to victims' families

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Tone of the Episode

Throughout, the hosts balance characteristic humor and banter with a serious, incisive take on true crime. They express deep sympathy for victims, frustration at the criminal justice system’s inadequacy in deterring repeat offenders, and concern over the culture of social media-driven appearance standards. The conversational tone remains approachable while never trivializing the tragedy at hand.

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Summary Takeaways

• Unlicensed cosmetic surgery, marketed online at discount rates, can result in irreversible harm or death.
• Social media can lend false credibility to dangerous practitioners.
• Gaps in the justice system can enable repeat tragedies if sentences are too lenient.
• Due diligence and medical regulation are vital to consumer safety.
• The case of Libby Adame stands as a cautionary tale about greed, unregulated cosmetic procedures, and the deadly side effects of our image-obsessed culture.

Transcript

[Mike Ferguson]

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[Mike Ferguson]

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[Mike Gibson]

Hey, I'm doing pretty good, man. How about you?

[Mike Ferguson]

I'm doing great. Yeah, we're in the new studio.

[Mike Gibson]

We are, yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

So we got a lot of firsts here.

[Mike Gibson]

Yes, we do.

[Mike Ferguson]

This is our first episode in the new studio. It's also our first video episode that's going to be up on YouTube.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

And it's our first episode, second episode of TCAT a week, a lot of firsts and, you know, trying something different. I'm not doing the music that, that I normally do on tcat. There's no shout outs, there's no voicemails, there's no nothing. It's just the story.

[Mike Gibson]

This is just the story for the extra episode that comes out. Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

And so, and I could play around with it. We could change it if we don't like it. But, you know, we're talking about this woman named Libby Adame. And Libby was known as Latia or the butt lady. And she and her daughter, they built this social media following, offering silicone butt injections. At a low price.

[Mike Gibson]

How low?

[Mike Ferguson]

I don't know.

[Mike Gibson]

Had to pay a lot for mine.

[Mike Ferguson]

I know. Well, we'll get into it because I know this is something that you've dabbled in. They used to call you no Buns Bobby and they don't anymore. So there is a reason for that.

[Mike Gibson]

Well, exactly. But you know what? It, it's, it's helped my weekend shows.

[Mike Ferguson]

I, I guarantee it has.

[Mike Gibson]

You know, plus now my pants don't fall down when I. During the day. Yeah. You know, like they, they.

[Mike Ferguson]

Because you literally had no. No but whatsoever.

[Mike Gibson]

I had no but.

[Mike Ferguson]

But the problem was these procedures were illegal. Right. And three women ended up dying and dozens more were disfigured. 26 year old Carissa Nicole Rajpaul died on October 15, 2019 at a home in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. Carissa moved from South Africa to Southern California with a dream of becoming a social media star and making it in the adult entertainment business, per the LA Times. And you know, let's face it, in the world we live in and have lived in for the past, what, 5, 10, 15 years, social media has played a big part in the aspirations of a lot of people.

[Mike Gibson]

Huge, Huge. And it's all, it's driven image. It's. Right, it's driven by image.

[Mike Ferguson]

It is. And that's, I think, part of the issue that we're going to be dealing with in this episode. But you think about kids coming out of high school now saying, I don't want to go to college, I want to be a YouTube star, or I want to be a podcast star or whatever it is. And then obviously also she was trying to make it in the adult entertainment business. So Carissa reached out to 51 year old Libby Adame, 23 year old Alyssa Galaz. This was a mother, daughter, teen.

[Mike Gibson]

Okay.

[Mike Ferguson]

Advertising cosmetic procedures at discounted rates on Instagram. And I said it right? On social media, Libby Adame was known as the Butt lady or Latia.

[Mike Gibson]

Ooh, the Latia.

[Mike Ferguson]

So first of all, I get it. Some of these cosmetic procedures can be very, very expensive. You see something that seems like a great discount, you might want to jump on that. I'm a little worried about finding your place to go based on an Instagram post.

[Mike Gibson]

It's kind of scary. That's how you're shopping your surgical procedure.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, we're not talking about a beauty cream. Right. Or something that some influencer is saying, hey, use this, you'll look younger. That's one thing. A lot of people will try that because they follow an Influencer. And they respect them and they'll try it. We're talking about, like, a procedure that somebody has to perform. Okay, that's. I don't think that's the way that I would go. The women met with Carissa, who was seeking an enhancement of her buttocks.

[Mike Gibson]

The buttocks.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. And you know how much I love to say the word buttocks.

[Mike Gibson]

Say it a lot, actually.

[Mike Ferguson]

I do say it a lot. And you know what? For people who are just finding us on YouTube. Go back, listen to our podcast. We've been doing this for 10 years.

[Mike Gibson]

We have.

[Mike Ferguson]

We have over 470 episodes. I just wanted to put that out there. But the other thing, Gibbs, is. I guess I'll say the female, but.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, is.

[Mike Ferguson]

Is, I think, a big source of. What's the word I want to use?

[Mike Gibson]

Attention.

[Mike Ferguson]

Well, boy, it can be attention, for sure. I'm talking more about the female side.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Because I think a lot of females, they want that certain look.

[Mike Gibson]

Well, I think if. Yeah. If they've seen it in the magazines and they see it on TV and all that.

[Mike Ferguson]

I mean, look at a Kim Kardashian. You look at some of these stars who, you know, kind of have this certain look around the posterior area.

[Mike Gibson]

Well, I definitely don't think men really care about their rear end. Like, I don't think.

[Mike Ferguson]

Not as much as women.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah. I just don't. I think one day, like, you're the exception.

[Mike Ferguson]

I would never, you know. Yeah. Have anything injected into my rear end, but it's because I don't care.

[Mike Gibson]

I just think most guys, like, think they're good with it, and then one day they wake up and they're like, I don't have an ass. It is what happened.

[Mike Ferguson]

Completely gone.

[Mike Gibson]

You know, it's all back and legs now.

[Mike Ferguson]

And that literally is what happens. Yeah. But it's also kind of that. And my wife and I were talking about this the other day. When you look at actresses in Hollywood, and this is a horrible thing to me. Guys are allowed to age any way they want to, apparently. Yeah, right. Harrison Ford was just in a Marvel movie. Yeah, he was in the. The 1923. Now, he's a great actor, but he doesn't look like he looked when he played in Star Wars.

[Mike Gibson]

No, not at all.

[Mike Ferguson]

The issue I have is women are not treated anywhere near the same. They're not allowed to age gracefully in Hollywood.

[Mike Gibson]

Not in that space at all.

[Mike Ferguson]

Or in the entertainment business.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Anyway. And I feel horrible about that. I mean, it's not my call. I'M not a casting director, anything like that, but I do think it's very unfair.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, but I mean, that's probably the biggest chunk of plastic surgery's business, is women.

[Mike Ferguson]

I would say more women get plastic surgery than men. I mean, I think a lot more men nowadays are probably getting it, but, you know, I don't know, maybe more in the face. I keep hitting my mic. Yeah, more in the face area.

[Mike Gibson]

I mean, I have the buttocks.

[Mike Ferguson]

You do have the buttocks.

[Mike Gibson]

I got the calf implants.

[Mike Ferguson]

The penile enlargement I thought was a.

[Mike Gibson]

That was a reduction.

[Mike Ferguson]

That was a over the line.

[Mike Gibson]

But, hey, you do the biceps.

[Mike Ferguson]

You do what you got to do.

[Mike Gibson]

You know, think about getting the extended chin for the chisel look.

[Mike Ferguson]

Oh, okay. I thought you meant down here. You don't need. You don't need that, brother.

[Mike Gibson]

But, yeah, I've. I can't do anything about the hair loss now.

[Mike Ferguson]

I. I wear a hat. That's why you do for it, huh? So they met with Carissa.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

You know, and. And although they weren't licensed to perform surgery or really any cosmetic procedures, Carissa scheduled three procedures with Adame and her daughter in the fall of 2019. During one of the procedures, Carissa took selfies and videos showing herself smiling while she was kind of lying on a cloth covered table in a private home in Encino. Adame and Glaz, we're seen in the video injecting a syringe into Carissa's buttocks in the background. Okay. During her third procedure on October 15, 2019, something went terribly wrong. According to LA Times, Carissa was injected with a type of liquid silicone comprising materials commonly found at home improvement stores. Okay. I already, you know, talked about my fear of finding your cosmetic surgeon type person on Instagram. Right. I don't think a lot of cosmetic surgeons are walking the aisles of Home Depot Lowe's picking up their supplies.

[Mike Gibson]

This is toxic chemical that you're injecting into your body. Your body is not going to want.

[Mike Ferguson]

To accept it because it's not medical grade.

[Mike Gibson]

Exactly.

[Mike Ferguson]

It can't be. Carissa suffered acute cardiopulmonary dysfunction on the makeshift operating table that was set up in the house. Adame and Galaz called 911, but then they fled, leaving paramedics and physicians unaware of the silicone injection. Carissa later died in the emergency room. So, I mean, to me it's obvious, right? They were doing something or had done something that they 100% knew they shouldn't have been doing.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah. They. They knew it was wrong.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. Now, to call 91 1, that. That's good. But then to flee. Yeah, basically. What are you saying? I didn't stick around because I didn't. I knew I was going to get in trouble, and I didn't want that.

[Mike Gibson]

Exactly. I mean, but like you said, they. The police would show up. How are they going to know what happened here?

[Mike Ferguson]

Right.

[Mike Gibson]

You leave, like, the. The cocking tube. You know, the cocking tube that you used or whatever you used out.

[Mike Ferguson]

Well, and the other thing is, what would have happened if they had stayed? Would that have. Would that information have allowed, you know, emergency personnel to possibly save Karissa's life?

[Mike Gibson]

I think you have a much better chance if they know.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. We don't know for sure, but it's a possibility.

[Mike Gibson]

Your odds improve.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, no doubt about it. Back in 2017, the FDA released a warning about the illegal use of injectable silicone for body contouring and associated health risks. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that the risk can include irreversible disfigurement and even death. I don't want either one of those.

[Mike Gibson]

No, it's not worth it. You know, it's not worth dying over or being, you know, really ill, sick with it. And it's not worth the fact that they. They inject you, and maybe for a minute, it looks like you have a really nice, you know, buttocks that you want it, but as soon as you sit down and move around, it hardens, and next thing you know, you have a deformed boulder.

[Mike Ferguson]

You got a boulder on one side. Who knows? Exactly, you know, procedures, Any type of procedure is somewhat risky in and of itself. Now, if you're going to somebody's house using a makeshift, you know, operating table, and you're getting injected with who knows what. Okay. Well, you're upping the risks significantly.

[Mike Gibson]

It's kind of like that old saying, you get what you pay for.

[Mike Ferguson]

Well, there's no doubt about it. That's absolutely correct. Injectable silicone is different from the silicone contained within approved breast implants because the breast implant shell keeps the silicone from migrating, you know, within the body.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Injectable, injectable silicone is only FDA approved for a specific use inside the eye. I don't know what that is, but I think that's why people kind of freak out if, you know, a breast implant ruptures.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

If it's a silicone breast implant, well, then you've got that silicone seeping, seeping, or Leaking. When seeking to enlarge the size of their buttocks or breasts, some consumers are falsely told they're receiving FDA approved dermal filler. But they're injected with silicone. Yeah. So, I mean, what do you do if you're lied to, man?

[Mike Gibson]

Well, that's the thing, too, right? I mean, if you don't know, if you're just. If you're told. We get this exactly where the doctors get it from. We're just not charging you what they charge.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. Which is, I'm sure, what they're saying.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

According to the fda, side effects can include ongoing pain and serious injuries such as scarring, tissue death, permanent disfigurement. If the silicone migrates beyond the injection site, it could cause an embolism, which is a blockage of a blood vessel, stroke, infections and death. So those are serious things, and these.

[Mike Gibson]

Are things that a non doctor wouldn't be aware of. You know, I mean, if you're not a doctor performing this, are you going to know all that?

[Mike Ferguson]

No. Possibly. But for certain people, even if they knew, yeah, they're making money, and so maybe they're going to roll the dice. But you're rolling the dice with another person's life.

[Mike Gibson]

That's right.

[Mike Ferguson]

And I think that's where it gets really, really scary. It would take nearly two years for the LAPD to identify Libby Adame and Alicia Galaz as the women responsible for Carissa Rajpaul's death. Over 50 women had reported botched surgeries in that time period. Wow. The mother and daughter were arrested at their home on August 5, 2021. After the arrest, the LAPD had to increase staff to handle the sudden influx of calls. RA Reporting botched cosmetic procedures. Many of the victims who spoke to authorities were permanently disfigured. According to LAPD Chief Alan Hamilton, they all shared pretty similar stories, alleging that the duo performed surgeries from private homes and transferred medical equipment to and from each location.

[Mike Gibson]

This was a fairly large problem, was.

[Mike Ferguson]

A big operation, which resulted in a really big problem. It didn't sound like their success rate was very good, but that doesn't surprise me. They're not using what they should have been using.

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[Mike Ferguson]

Chief Hamilton explained that saving money is what draws many people to get, you know, illegal, unlicensed plastic surgery or cosmetic procedure. The average cost of a butt lift by a board certified surgeon is somewhere probably around 10, $15,000. It's expensive, but these ladies were charging about 3 to 4,000.

[Mike Gibson]

So a third of the cost.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, roughly somewhere around there. Libby and Alicia's trial started on February 20, 2024. The jury heard that the two defendants had seen the silicone injection procedure go horribly wrong before, but they continued advertising and performing the procedure anyway because it.

[Mike Gibson]

Was easy money for him.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. Three to $4,000 a pop.

[Mike Gibson]

I mean, if all you're buying is some syringes and the silicone. Silicone. I mean, your profit margins are huge.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. If. And it's because they're doing the work.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Right. They don't have doctors and nurses and anybody else there. The prosecution accused the two of implied malice murder. The risks of the procedures were so well known that they showed malice in injecting Carissa with the silicone liquid. They continued putting people at risk for money. They performed this procedure for about a decade. And like I said earlier, they build a following on social media.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

And I think that's what's scary, Right. You get a following. Well, what comes along with that? Is there, you know, at the very least, some sort of implied knowledge or what's the word I'm looking for? Like, they're. They're not scam artists.

[Mike Gibson]

No. They're showing that they have some type of expertise in this.

[Mike Ferguson]

Right. I mean, how could, if, how could they have these many followers? Right. I think a lot of people would look at that.

[Mike Gibson]

You got to be successful. Yeah. All these people are following you and you're showing all these different.

[Mike Ferguson]

Doesn't mean. It. Doesn't mean it's true. But I think that could hook some people who might be on the fence or might not otherwise do it. According to the LA Daily News, Carissa was told that the injections would prompt the growth of fat cells in her buttocks, making them look fuller. Okay. And. And let's be honest, there. There are a lot of women who are after that.

[Mike Gibson]

Yes.

[Mike Ferguson]

You know, just a fuller looking backside. Yeah.

[Mike Gibson]

It's all Tont Loke's fault. He started it when babies got back.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. Way back in the day.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

And then, you know, you had the Kim Kardashians and the, you know, the trend has kind of gone that way. Like that's the in look, I guess, for lack of a better term, you and I are not really in on anything, but we're aware of things.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

So I'm. I'm aware of it. The defense argued that the women could not be held criminally liable because California law does not outlaw butt lift procedures. And Karissa sought out the treatment and she consented to the treatment.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, but did she know what she was consenting to?

[Mike Ferguson]

Well, right, that's going to be the argument. But I understand where the defense is Going to. Right. Of course she came to them. She gave consent to be injected, to have this procedure done. I think the prosecution is going to say the exact same thing that you said. Well, yeah, you. But you told her it was going to be X.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

And what you delivered was something completely different.

[Mike Gibson]

Let's don't forget that. I mean, her Instagram, her social media is marketing this. Right. I mean, so she.

[Mike Ferguson]

It's not a secret.

[Mike Gibson]

No. She's not underground, trying to draw them in, hook them in, you know, saying, this is. This is what we do. Come see me and watch what I do for you.

[Mike Ferguson]

So prosecutors showed the jury autopsy photos of Karissa Rajpal and another woman, Kenya Arias, a woman who died in 2018 after also receiving silicone injections from Adame and Galaz. Both women had puncture wounds in their buttocks where the syringes went in. Examiners also extracted liquid silicone from Carissa's buttocks. The jury heard details about the death of Kenya Arias, who got the procedure done at a salon in Southgate. Adame and Galaz were captured by security cameras in the parking lot behind the salon as paramedics rushed in through the front door to treat areas who had lost consciousness after getting an injection. Paramedics unsafilly attempted to revive her.

[Mike Gibson]

I mean, they knew what they were doing was wrong. You could try to make a case for the first time, like, oh, maybe this stuff shouldn't be used.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yes.

[Mike Gibson]

But when you continue and it happens again right there, I mean, it's on you.

[Mike Ferguson]

But just look at the numbers. 50 botched surgeries, three deaths. I mean, at some point, right, that. That argument just completely goes out of the. Out the window that, well, we didn't know this wasn't right. There's just no way you can. You can say that. Prosecutor said Galaz helped two other women administer the procedure on Arias after Arius died. Prosecutors traced her cell phone back to Adame and Galaz's home in Riverside. Later that night, her phone pinged a cell tower one last time before it was turned off. It was unclear why. No charges were filed, but Deputy DA Lee Cernock told the jury that the case was under investigation. When investigators became aware of Carissa Rajpaul's death, Chris's husband, Marco, testified that he was aware of his wife's first two procedures, but she hid the third one from him because she knew he objected to it. And I can tell you right now, if my wife said, I want to have a butt lift, I'd be like, okay, you don't need it. But if you want it, if it's going to make you feel better, that's kind of how I feel about anything she wants to do. Where I would have a problem is the source. Yeah. Of the advertisements.

[Mike Gibson]

If she's like, hey, Gibby's got this buddy that does buttless in his. His alley garage.

[Mike Ferguson]

Out of his van. Out of his windowless van.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

No. And a lot of times, okay, if it's 10 to 15,000 and this one costs 3,000. Well, there is that old saying, Right. Sometimes things are just too good to be True.

[Mike Gibson]

Absolutely.

[Mike Ferguson]

In March 2024, Adame and Galatz were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. They were both acquitted of the more serious charge of murder. Adame was convicted of three counts of practicing medicine without a certification, and Gaz was found guilty of two counts of the same charge. And, I mean, nobody really wants involuntary manslaughter, but it's a. It's a long way from murder.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

I mean, it's a lot less serious.

[Mike Gibson]

Obviously, better outcome for them because on.

[Mike Ferguson]

April 18, 2024, they were both sentenced to just three months and. No, three years.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

And eight months for involuntary manslaughter. So you're not going to get three years for murder.

[Mike Gibson]

No, no. Kind of a light sentence, honestly.

[Mike Ferguson]

Oh, yeah. I mean, for what they did, they were ordered to be taken into custody, but hours later, the judge agreed with the defense that they were entitled to credit for time spent under electronic monitoring, and they were subsequently released from prison.

[Mike Gibson]

Wow.

[Mike Ferguson]

So you figure they were probably out on bail. They were required to wear an ankle monitor, which I know you've worn one. We've talked about that for years on the podcast. So they were probably at home, right, living their life, and then all of a sudden they're like, yeah, you're convicted, but because you spent this much time at home wearing the ankle monitor, we're going to set you free.

[Mike Gibson]

It's just not the same.

[Mike Ferguson]

No, no. And I don't like it. Despite her conviction and a warning from the judge, Adame continued performing unlicensed cosmetic procedures.

[Mike Gibson]

People just don't learn.

[Mike Ferguson]

And that's the thing, Right. She knew what she was doing was wrong. She got caught, she got convicted. But this is something that you and I talk about on all of our podcasts, right? When the sentence isn't stiff enough. Well, what are you telling that person if you get caught, okay. It's not going to be that severe. And I think a lot of times what that does, it emboldens Them to keep doing the things that they were doing.

[Mike Gibson]

Well, hey, if I did something severe like that and just had to put the monitor on and had to sit at my home enjoying my life with all my luxuries.

[Mike Ferguson]

You have a lot of luxuries. I'm just saying, you act like you're the King of Monaco or something.

[Mike Gibson]

Whatever those luxuries are.

[Mike Ferguson]

Of tv. I've seen your house. It's not like a mansion or anything.

[Mike Gibson]

TV dinners.

[Mike Ferguson]

Oh, now you're down to TV dinners. Okay, whatever you have. Yeah, it.

[Mike Gibson]

It. It's still better than what you would get if you were in prison.

[Mike Ferguson]

Jail, Jail, prison, whatever.

[Mike Gibson]

No, he actually had a real mattress to lay on. So you don't have to. You don't have to use the bathroom with a bunch of people around you. Right, but. So what's. What's going to keep you from doing it again?

[Mike Ferguson]

Well, that's my point exactly. I. I don't think it does.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

In March 2025, Adame was responsible for the death of actress Cindiana Santangelo. Cindy Anna was born Cindy Lehrer in 1967. She was raised in LA in the late 80s and early 90s. She worked as a dancer and appeared in various music videos. She was in young MCs. Bust a move. Oh, remember that?

[Mike Gibson]

I was in that too. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

That was pre buttock implant for you.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

I actually did listen to Young MC back in the day.

[Mike Gibson]

I know you did.

[Mike Ferguson]

I had a rap phase.

[Mike Gibson]

Yes, you did.

[Mike Ferguson]

Before I turned to country. She also delivered the Spanish introduction to the music video for the song Stop By Jane's Addiction. Okay, so, you know, some big artists at the time. Frontman Perry Farrell later described her to Spin magazine as the Latin Marilyn Monroe. Oh, so that's. That's pretty heady praise.

[Mike Gibson]

I think so too, I would say.

[Mike Ferguson]

Cindy Anna also appeared on the shows Married With Children, ER and CSI Miami. Okay, so she had some impressive credits.

[Mike Gibson]

Sure she did.

[Mike Ferguson]

To her name. Now, I don't know how big of roles these were. She married Frank Santangelo in 2001 and they had two sons together. Cindy Anna was later the director and chief executive of Mermaids Cove Malibu, an all women's luxury sober living facility. Okay, so, you know, a place where people would go to, you know, try to get over their addiction or. I don't know if you get over it, but you know what I mean, get clean and it's needed.

[Mike Gibson]

It's a. I mean, it's a good thing that she was trying to do there.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. Start down a different path. In a reality show style promotional video on Mermaid's Cove, she described herself and discussed why she wanted to help others, saying, I'm Cindy Anna. I'm a great mommy, a wife, a daughter, a friend, a CEO and a recovering addict. I had kind of the party rock star life, but I ended up as sort of, everybody knows, a low bottom junkie. And unfortunately that does happen to a lot of people.

[Mike Gibson]

It does.

[Mike Ferguson]

She went on to say, when I had the blessing to get clean and sober this time, I realized that there was a niche in this market of recovery for people like me. That someone like me could touch only a certain ilk of women, that they would believe it and hear it only from me. So you said it's a good thing and I do agree with that. I also think this could probably be a pretty lucrative business.

[Mike Gibson]

Oh, I definitely think it's lucrative.

[Mike Ferguson]

I don't think it's cheap, no, that type of service, but it is very needed, as you said. Cindiana Santangelo died on March 24, 2025 at her home in Malibu. She went into medical distress after Libby Adame administered a silicone injection. Her husband Frank called 911 after Adame said,Indiana was having trouble breathing. The LA County Fire Department responded to the home around 7:15pm Video from the home, which was introduced as evidence at trial, showed Frank seeing his wife bleeding from the injection sites on her buttocks and running to get material to clean them. He called 911 as his wife was drooling, lying on her side and having difficulty breathing.

[Mike Gibson]

Tragic.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. And you know, obviously heartbreaking for her as she's going through this, but also extremely rough for him. Right. He's seeing this and he's like, what can I do? He's in the middle of it. Adame left and took her bag with her. Cindiana was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. So to me, very similar. Right. Adame is again, still doing these illegal procedures. Something goes wrong and what is her first inclination?

[Mike Gibson]

To flee.

[Mike Ferguson]

Oh, I'm getting the heck out of dodge because I'm doing something I shouldn't be doing and I don't want to get in trouble. You know, folks, a well built wardrobe is about pieces that work together and hold up over time. That's what Quince does best. Premium materials, thoughtful design and everyday staples that feel easy to wear and easy to rely on even as the weather shifts. Quince has the everyday essentials I love with the quality that lasts. Organic cotton sweaters, polos for Every occasion, lighter jackets that keep you warm in the changing seasons, and the list just goes on. Quince works directly with top factories and cuts out the middlemen. So you're not paying for brand markup, just quality clothing. Plus, they only partner with factories that meet rigorous standards for craftsmanship and ethical production. And that's a big deal for me. I am hooked on their flow knit performance wear. I just got a long sleeved hoodie in the mail the other day and it's all I want to wear. Everything we've ordered from Quints has been top notch and the prices are amazing. Refresh your wardrobe with quince. Go to quince.com teacat for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's quincee.com tcatt free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com TCA Sandiana's cause of death was a silicone embolism. According to ABC7, the silicone oil had migrated from the injection site to the bloodstream. The circulatory system moved this oil into her lungs, which prevented the lungs from providing oxygen to her body.

[Mike Gibson]

I'm assuming it acted like a barrier.

[Mike Ferguson]

I don't know. But it's not good.

[Mike Gibson]

No.

[Mike Ferguson]

Frank told police that the quote, unquote nurse who performed this injection was named Libby. And it probably didn't take police Right.

[Mike Gibson]

Too long to figure that out.

[Mike Ferguson]

To figure it out. Because who had been busted before for doing this exact same thing? The trial started in October 2025. Adami's defense argued that she had worked as a consultant for doctors who can legally perform buttocks injections in Mexico, but she was not practicing in California.

[Mike Gibson]

Whoa. There's a big difference between medical procedures in Mexico and California. Right, we know that. I mean, we know a lot of people, you, at least back in the day, would go across the border to get certain medical procedures done because.

[Mike Ferguson]

Or medicines.

[Mike Gibson]

Or medicines.

[Mike Ferguson]

Because they were cheap, much cheaper. Yeah, but I think what they're arguing is she wasn't practicing. Yeah, I mean, it might be wordplay.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

But I think that's what they're saying. They also argued that she didn't personally administer the injection and was only there as a consultant.

[Mike Gibson]

Oh, okay.

[Mike Ferguson]

The timeline of events didn't provide enough time for the procedure to have been done. So. And this is all according to the defense. Right. Someone else must have performed the injections before Adame arrived. So they can't argue that she wasn't there.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

Frank saw her. Yeah. He'd Already told the police she was there, then got to come up with something else. Additionally, the defense argued that Cindiana might have already had the silicone injections, but hid them from her family. However, an examination of her body after death indicated that the injections had been done recently. So something you and I talk about a lot, right. You got a defense attorney, they're trying to do their job, and part of that job is to, you know, raise reasonable doubt.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

In trying to do that, it's like they're throwing a bunch of stuff at the wall, hoping something sticks.

[Mint Mobile Advertiser]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

Prosecutors and investigators pointed to inconsistent statements from Adame in messages between her and Cindiana discussing upcoming appointments as evidence that Adame was there to administer the injections. And I get it. Right. You know, if it was 1970, would you have that type of electronic trail? No, you wouldn't. But in 2025, you're going to have a lot of different electronic trails.

[Mike Gibson]

You sure will.

[Mike Ferguson]

From, you know, your cell phone tracking you, what cell phone towers is hitting, you know, what text messages are you sending, emails, things like that.

[Mike Gibson]

I'm just thinking how compelling her website and all that had to be for even somebody that lived in Malibu, I'm assuming, was successful.

[Mike Ferguson]

Had the money to go.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, probably had the money go, but they probably said, why would I spend this if I can get it done for this?

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. You know, well, let's face it, who doesn't want to save money?

[Mike Gibson]

Absolutely.

[Mike Ferguson]

Everybody wants to save a little money, but especially me. I'm with you. You know, again, does it go back to the following that she had developed, and how misleading can that be? You know, if she's got X amount of followers? Well, obviously she's not a fraudster, but that doesn't mean. That doesn't mean that's the case.

[Mike Gibson]

It kind of gives you some instant credibility.

[Mike Ferguson]

It does, and I think it did for her. In closing arguments, Deputy DA Lee Cernock said Adame had been warned by a judge in her 2024 trial that because she was aware of the dangers of silicone injections, she could be convicted of murder if another client died. Yeah, so, you know, we just got done talking about it. Right. You were kind of dealt what we thought was a pretty low sentence at that point. Maybe you want to make a change in your life. Yeah, but she doesn't.

[Mike Gibson]

She doesn't.

[Mike Ferguson]

She goes back to what she had been getting away with and essentially got not much more than a slap on the wrist, in my opinion. But she was warned. And you would think that warning alone would kind of cause her to be like, oh, yeah, I don't want to take that chance. And to most people, it probably would.

[Mike Gibson]

But when the punishment is so light, Yes, I, I, I think she walks away thinking, I'm not worried about it. I'm just not worried about it.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah, she must have, because she kept doing it.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

On October 9, 2025, Libby Adame was found guilty of second degree murder and practicing medicine without a license. On November 5, she was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. So, you know, far cry from the time served under essentially house arrests or house monitoring that she had gotten before. Adame's attorney filed a motion for a new trial saying there is no direct evidence of her guilt. She's never admitted to anybody that she, you know, did the injections. Nobody's ever seen her do the injections. But the judge denied the motion. Before delivering the sentence. Cindiana's son, Dante Santangelo, said In court, per ABC7, I didn't expect this to happen in my wildest dreams. I'm all for the law and everyone to get a fair chance. But I don't think someone who has no regard for human life or anything like that should be allowed back on the street. Because clearly this is something that's happened multiple times. Right. And he's not wrong. I think. You know, when you're the victim's family member of a person who was murdered and you find out that the perpetrator had done this time and time again and had been essentially allowed to walk free, you are not going to be a happy camper, Gibbs. I mean, none of us would be, because it's just not the way it should be. Frank also alleged that Adame fled their home as soon as she saw his wife beginning to convulse. He filed a civil suit, wrongful death, Right. Against Adame. And he said in his civil suit that his wife was, quote, killed in the prime of her life in her own home after being unlawfully injected with unsafe and unapproved substances by Libya dame. An unlicensed individual falsely holding herself out in. Is qualified to perform, to perform cosmetic procedures. Yeah, and I think that spells it out pretty well. He also testified against her at her criminal trial. Now, it seems that this wrongful death suit is still ongoing. This is a fairly recent case, right? Oh, yeah, 2025. And we really couldn't find any recent updates. But as we wrap this one up, Gibbs, you know, you have this person in Libby Adame, and we can't forget about her. Daughter. I think she got her daughter into this stuff as well. She did practicing cosmetic procedures for about 10 years with. Without a license, something she shouldn't have been doing during that time. You know, she built up a pretty good following on social media, mainly because of her low prices, probably. And then her daughter came in, joined the business. And I don't think there's any doubt that even though she knew the dangers of injecting this type of silicone, they continued to perform these injections for years and years using these same procedures, essentially putting their clients at risk for money.

[Mike Gibson]

It's easy money is why they did it. You know, just like these people that do the lip injections that illegally. It's easy money for them until something like this happens or somebody gets to fig, you know, disfigure.

[Mike Ferguson]

Disfigure, yeah.

[Mike Gibson]

From those injections. It's a shame.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah. But you assume if you're going to that type of place, they're. They're licensed. Right. They're supposed to be licensed.

[Mike Gibson]

You're hoping.

[Mike Ferguson]

And maybe that's upon you during some type of due diligence process to make sure that they are, but try to do some research. Yeah, I mean, I. I'm definitely not blaming the victim here, but, you know, I. I think for some people who are thinking about it, that that would be a good piece of advice, probably, is to make sure that whoever you're going to is licensed. But. So, you know, doing these procedures, putting clients at risk. People died, they're disfigured. Dozens of botched surgeries.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

And the deaths of three clients. And I think when you boil it down, and you've already said it right, it's just pure greed.

[Mike Gibson]

Exactly.

[Mike Ferguson]

You knew it was wrong. A judge told you it was wrong. Don't do it. If you're convicted again, you're going away for murder. But the allure of that type of easy money. Because you think about it, Gibbs, how long does it take? How long did that procedure take? I have no idea.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, it's not very long.

[Mike Ferguson]

But is it $3,000 worth of your time? I think most people would say, oh, That's a quick $3,000 or $4,000 or whatever it was.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah. Depending on what you're doing. Yeah, that's easy money for them.

[Mike Ferguson]

But, you know, it's hard for a lot of us to kind of get to that point in our minds where we can understand how someone could put another person's life in jeopardy over money. Well, but it happens all the time.

[Mike Gibson]

It does. Ten years ago, I probably would have been a little less. I've been like, oh, that seems so weird.

[Mike Ferguson]

Oh, yeah. But now I'm like, after 10 years of doing true crime podcasts. Yeah.

[Mike Gibson]

I'm not. I'm not surprised that much anymore.

[Mike Ferguson]

No, I'm not either. I'm not. But that's it for our episode on Libya Adame and our first.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Second T. Cat of the week. I don't even know how to say that. That's the best way I can think of to say it.

[Mike Gibson]

It's awesome, man. You broke the desk in.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Mike Gibson]

You broken everything in.

[Mike Ferguson]

You know, you broke it and you didn't break anything. So that's.

[Mike Gibson]

I didn't break.

[Mike Ferguson]

So far, we're doing great.

[Mike Gibson]

Really well. Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

All right. You know, we love y'.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

All.

[Mike Ferguson]

We appreciate it. If you're not subscribed, hit that subscribe button.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah, do that.

[Mike Ferguson]

It doesn't cost anything. It. It helps us out. And like I said earlier, if you're just finding us based on this video, our first of. Of many. We have hundreds and hundreds of podcast episodes. Well, between the two podcasts, we have almost 900.

[Mike Gibson]

Yeah.

[Mike Ferguson]

Or we do have over 900.

[Mike Gibson]

Right.

[Mike Ferguson]

Between true crime all the time and true crime all the time unsolved. So, yeah, go check those out. They're great for commute. You can find them on any of your favorite podcast players.

[Mike Gibson]

Like you say like and subscribe.

[Mike Ferguson]

Yep. Like and subscribe. And we'll be back next week.

[Mike Gibson]

We will.

[Mike Ferguson]

All right, we're out.

[Mike Gibson]

See ya.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

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