A Maryland dental assistant accused of selling $100,000 worth of opioids to a dentist, which she obtained using her relatives’ Medicare and Medicaid benefits, was sentenced along with her mom and her step-grandmother, according to the Attorney General of Maryland.
Samantha Cook, a dental assistant who reportedly sold oxycodone to Dr. Andrew Fried (who is serving a suspended sentence for his offenses), was sentenced to a 10-year suspended sentence with three years of supervised probation. Additionally, Cook was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, and she is excluded from participating as a provider in any state or U.S. healthcare program, according to a press release dated April 22 from the attorney general.
Alice Deese, Cook’s mother, was sentenced to probation before judgment with five years of supervised probation. Janice Deese, Cook’s step-grandmother, was sentenced to probation before judgment with 18 months of supervised probation, according to the press release.
The investigation began when police received a tip that Fried, who owned Perry Hall Family Dental in Nottingham, MD, was allegedly providing dental services to patients while under the influence of opioids. Furthermore, police learned that Fried was buying oxycodone pills from Cook, his part-time dental assistant.
Between January and May 2025, authorities conducted physical surveillance of Fried, Cook, and Cook's mother and step-grandmother using GPS tracking devices. Surveillance revealed numerous meetings between Fried and Cook in which they engaged in hand-to-hand drug deals. Financial records revealed that Cook sold more than $100,000 worth of oxycodone to Fried over an 18-month period, according to the press release.
Cook purportedly admitted that she obtained her oxycodone supply from her mother, Alice Deese, a Medicaid recipient, and from her step-grandmother, Janice Deese, a Medicare recipient. Medicaid and Medicare claims data revealed that Alice and Janice Deese used their benefits to pay for their office visits and prescription pills.
A search of Fried’s practice revealed an oxycodone prescription pill bottle that belonged to Alice Deese and a barbiturate prescription bottle that belonged to Janice Deese’s dog, according to the press release.
As part of a plea deal, Fried admitted that he bought oxycodone weekly from Cook and practiced dentistry while under the influence of opioids.
In December 2025, Fried, who pleaded guilty to distributing narcotics and prescribing controlled dangerous substances outside the regular duties of a dentist, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. All but one day of Fried’s prison term was suspended.
Additionally, Fried was sentenced to three years of probation and is prohibited from participating in U.S. healthcare programs.
