Marilyn Cote, who has been impersonating a certified psychiatrist for years, was linked to a new federal criminal process last Friday, this time accused of supplying narcotics without a professional license. A federal judge ordered her preventive detention for two months, marking her tenth ongoing legal case.

The Fiscalía General de la República charged Cote with prescribing controlled medications despite lacking any medical degree or professional license—a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison under the Federal Penal Code. Her clinic, “Neuropsychology: Clinic Marilyn Cote,” was shut down by Cofepris on November 7, 2024, due to serious irregularities.

Legal representatives of the victims have stated that this latest charge effectively ends any possibility for Cote’s defense to negotiate financial reparations to avoid trial. Previously, Cote had attempted to delay proceedings while seeking settlements, but lacking the financial means, those efforts failed.

Since her arrest on November 21, 2024, in Tlaxcala while trying to evade justice, Cote has been held at the Ciudad Serdán women’s prison. Despite her claims of curing depression in eight days and charging up to 1,400 pesos per consultation, the Secretaría de Educación Pública confirmed she holds no professional credentials in health fields—her background is in law and criminology.

Several patients reportedly worsened after following her prescribed treatments with controlled drugs. Two notable cases under judicial review occurred in 2019 in the Azcárate neighborhood and in August 2024 at Torres Médicas II, San Andrés Cholula.

The case gained national attention after the social media account “Charlatanes Médicos” exposed her, alongside complaints from women in Puebla who sought mental health care at her clinic.

Interestingly, before this new charge, Cote had been consulting inside the Ciudad Serdán penitentiary, where she was seen as a calming presence offering advice to inmates. However, with this latest accusation, she now faces up to a decade behind bars.

This case highlights the critical need for regulated, professional mental health services and the dangers posed by unlicensed practitioners exploiting vulnerable populations. For migrants and diverse communities in Mexico, it underscores the importance of verifying credentials and advocating for accessible, trustworthy healthcare options.