A dental manager in Massachusetts who was charged in May with falsely representing himself as a dentist faces new charges, including illegally issuing prescriptions for painkillers, according to the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General.
Fritz Gabriel, 69, a manager at Forest Hills Dental in Dorchester, MA, was indicted on charges of unlawful use of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration registration number and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card, according to a press release dated December 16 from the state attorney general. Gabriel was released on his own recognizance after pleading not guilty during his arraignment on December 17.
While falsely representing himself as a licensed dentist, Gabriel allegedly issued prescriptions, including ones for controlled substances, including Percocet, using the registration number and credentials of a dentist without that clinician's knowledge or authorization. Furthermore, Gabriel is accused of using a patient's credit card, which he reportedly helped the person open, to make more than $6,000 in unauthorized purchases, including $5,000 in charges to the dental practice, according to the press release. In May 2024, Gabriel was charged with practicing unlicensed dentistry and assault and battery for allegedly performing a tooth extraction on a patient and leaving an exposed root in her mouth.
Additionally, Gabriel and Forest Hills were charged with Medicaid fraud and larceny for reportedly defrauding patients and MassHealth, the state's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. Gabriel and the practice purportedly billed MassHealth for dental services, including root canals and fillings, that were never performed on patients. Gabriel allegedly fraudulently obtained $245,000 from the insurance program.
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