The CEO of the high-volume plastic surgery center in Lauderhill where a patient died last month is an ex-felon. Jeffry Davis was convicted of financial crimes related to his former company, which made replicas of vintage cars.
Long before he became head of Strax Rejuvenation and Aesthetics Institute, Davis was president of Classic Roadsters Inc. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to failing to pay taxes and making false statements to get a loan for the company. He served five months in federal prison. The Sun-Sentinel investigated Davis in 1998:
"Davis pleaded guilty in April 1995 to federal charges of making false statements to obtain a $250,000 loan for Classic Roadsters and failing to pay payroll taxes of about $280,000 owed by the firm, court records state."
After more than 20 lawsuits were filed against the Florida Center, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2004. That same year, Strax opened its doors in Lauderhill. Davis was one of the original co-owners, and two Florida Center surgeons, Roger Gordon and Jeffrey Hamm, began operating on patients at Strax.
When the Pulp called Strax today, Davis declined to comment. "He doesn't choose to speak with you," said the woman who answered his phone.
In the past eight years, five patients have died during or after surgery at Strax. Offering financing plans for patients who might otherwise find nips and tuck unaffordable, Strax doctors have performed more than 30,000 surgeries, according to the company's owners.
