HOUSTON — Court documents are shedding new light on the investigation into a woman accused of illegally performing abortions at clinics in the Houston area.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest of Maria Margarita Rojas, 48, in Waller County earlier this week. She’s charged with illegal performance of an abortion, a felony, and practicing medicine without a license.
Court documents reviewed by KHOU 11 reveal how an anonymous tip in January prompted the months-long investigation.
Investigators set up surveillance of clinics owned and operated by Rojas. The clinics listed were:
- Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller
- Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress
- Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring
The documents also mention how investigators went through trash bags at the locations looking for evidence.
Rojas was arrested on March 6.
The same day, investigators said they interviewed a woman they had witnessed visiting one of the clinics in Waller County.
The woman told them she was concerned about her pregnancy and went to the clinic to get checked out, according to court documents. She claimed Rojas had been presented by other staff as a gynecologist. The woman said Rojas told her she was four weeks pregnant and had only a nine percent chance of a successful pregnancy.
“As a result of her mistaken belief that the gynecologist was in fact a licensed physician in the State of Texas, she relied on the gynecologist’s medical advice and opted for the treatment regimen suggested,” court documents said.
That regimen was a medication abortion, according to the documents.
Days after the arrest, CBS News spoke with a woman who said Rojas worked with her part-time as a midwife.
“I can’t picture her doing this, I don’t believe that she did,” Holly Shearman, also a midwife and the owner of Tomball Birth Center, said.
“You don’t think she performed abortions?” the CBS News reporter asked.
“No, I do not,” Shearman replied.
Shearman said she was shocked to hear the allegations.
“Midwives don’t do that, period,” Shearman said. “It’s not what we do, it’s the opposite. We’re bringing life into the world with delivering babies and she’s never, ever talked about anything like that.”
Records show Rojas is out on bond.
Paxton said a temporary restraining order was filed to shut down her network of clinics.
Two Houston-area men also charged in abortion case
Jose Manuel Cendan Ley and Rubildo Labanino Matos were also arrested and charged in connection with the case.
Cendan Ley was also charged with performing an abortion and practicing medicine in violation of the law.
According to Paxton, he performed illegal medical procedures as a medical assistant at Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, TX and assisted Maria Margarita Rojas in providing at least one illegal abortion.
Cendan Ley is a Cuban national who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, Paxton said.
On Tuesday morning, Paxton’s office confirmed a third arrest connected with the case.
Rubildo Labanino Matos, 54, was arrested on March 8 upon returning to the U.S. from Cuba, the AG’s Office said. Matos, a nurse practitioner whose license is currently on probation by the Texas Board of Nursing, has been charged with conspiracy to practice medicine without a license.
Waller County’s Assistant District Attorney noted they anticipate the Attorney General’s Office will handle the prosecutions.
Will Vaughn is a Houston-based criminal defense attorney who is not involved in the case. He said this is an important case to watch.
“We can all foresee this being a constitutional challenge at the U.S. Supreme Court and that would be not so much challenging the conviction if there were one but challenging the constitutionally of the statute as a whole,” Vaughn said.
KHOU 11 attempted to reach Maria Rojas and Jose Cendan Ley and Maria Rojas.