The Criminal and Correctional Chamber V in Buenos Aires has overturned the legal proceedings against Cuban influencer Ernesto Prieto Gratacós and declared a lack of merit for him and his two associates, who were accused of fraud for selling an alleged cancer cure without scientific backing, as reported by Infobae.
This ruling, delivered by judges Rodolfo Pociello Argerich and Hernán López, does not conclude the matter. The judges have ordered an in-depth investigation, an expanded scientific analysis, and additional witness testimonies before reconsidering whether to file charges against the accused.
Born in Havana in 1967 and residing in Argentina since 1997, Prieto Gratacós managed the Metabolic Therapy Center on Paraná Street, Buenos Aires, a facility licensed only as a dental office but operating as a pseudo-oncology clinic.
Without a medical license—he described himself as a "writer" and "self-taught"—he amassed 339,000 followers on Instagram and thousands more on YouTube, where he promoted "revolutionary" cancer treatments.
The Impact of Unproven Treatments
Two women from Buenos Aires, diagnosed with pancreatic and colon cancer, began treatment at the center in mid-2019 and passed away in January and May of 2020, respectively. Their families filed the criminal complaint that initiated the case, although the Medical Forensic Corps could not establish a direct causal link between the treatment and the deaths.
The initial proceedings against the Cuban influencer were issued on February 24, 2026, by Judge Martín Yadarola, who imposed a 20 million pesos embargo on each of the three defendants: Prieto Gratacós, María Victoria Rodríguez Amador, and Roberto Álvarez.
Legal Proceedings Under Scrutiny
Judge Yadarola accused Prieto Gratacós and Amador of "making false promises of recovery or guaranteeing an extended life expectancy." However, the Chamber dismissed these charges because the expert report was inconclusive regarding the scientific validity of the therapies, and it was unclear how involved each defendant was in client acquisition and information dissemination.
The judges highlighted the limitations of the expert analysis: "The expert report was not conclusive about the existence of scientific research supporting the therapy's effectiveness, as the professionals conducting the analysis only stated that after an extensive search, they found no scientific support."
Substances seized during the July 2020 raid were analyzed by the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) and described as "nothing of significance" in medical terms, although this result was insufficient to uphold the charges without a more thorough assessment.
The court also mandated hearing more witnesses: "The Court also finds it necessary to hear statements from other witnesses (patients and/or relatives) to disclose what the professionals or center staff assured them regarding the therapies."
Despite the center's closure in 2020 and the legal proceedings in February 2026, Prieto Gratacós continued posting content on YouTube until January 2026, showing the challenges authorities face in curbing such activities online.
Legal and Health Concerns Surrounding Unproven Cancer Treatments
What led to the legal actions against Ernesto Prieto Gratacós?
The legal actions were initiated due to accusations of fraud for promoting and selling an unproven cancer cure, which lacked scientific validation.
Why was the initial processing of the case overturned?
The case was overturned because the expert report did not provide conclusive evidence about the scientific support for the therapies, and the extent of each defendant's involvement was unclear.
What are the next steps ordered by the court?
The court has ordered a more in-depth investigation, a broader scientific analysis, and additional witness testimonies to determine whether to proceed with charges.
How did Prieto Gratacós continue his activities despite the legal issues?
Prieto Gratacós continued to publish content on YouTube until January 2026, illustrating the difficulties authorities face in regulating and stopping such activities online.