Former Dentist Indicted on Charges He Sexually Assaulted Former Patients, Who Were Under Nitrous Oxide, and Employee

            WASHINGTON – Bilal Ahmed, 44, a former dentist who practiced in downtown Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury today on charges alleging that he sexually assaulted three former dental patients and one former employee and that he improperly touched another former employee.

            Mahsa Azimirad, 26, Ahmed’s former dental practice’s office manager, was also indicted today on a charge accusing her of lying to a grand jury during the investigation of Ahmed.

            The indictments, which were returned in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, were announced by U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Peter Newsham, Interim Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Ahmed, of Potomac, Md., was indicted on 21 counts of sexually abusing, or otherwise improperly touching, former patients and employees. The charges include 14 felony counts of sexual abuse, four misdemeanor counts of sexual abuse, and three misdemeanor counts of assault. Azimirad, of North Bethesda, Md., was indicted on one count of perjury.  They are to be arraigned on Oct. 13, 2016, by the Honorable Florence Pan.

            According to evidence presented by the government in arrest warrant affidavits, at earlier court hearings, and in public documents, it is alleged that on May 21, 2014, Ahmed was practicing as a dentist at Universal Smiles DC, in the 2300 block of M Street NW. The practice was originally called Bilal Ahmed DDS PC dba Universal Smiles DC.  Ahmed is the owner of these dental practices.  The government alleges that on that day Ahmed performed dental treatment to the patient, including administering nitrous oxide to him through a face mask.  The patient alleges when the mask came off his face, he realized that the defendant was sexually assaulting him.  He also realized that the door was closed and no one was in the room with them.  He reported the assault to the Metropolitan Police Department.

            During the course of the investigation, and as alleged in the charges, additional victims were identified, including two former male patients and a former male employee. The other former patients also were under nitrous oxide at the time of the incidents, the government alleges. The dates of the alleged assaults span from April 24, 2013, through May 21, 2014.

            Ahmed’s D.C. dental license was suspended on Nov. 3, 2014, and his Maryland dental license was suspended on April 6, 2016.

            Azimirad, the former office manager at Ahmed’s dental firms, is accused of giving false testimony to a grand jury on Nov. 18, 2014.

            Both defendants previously were arrested and charged in criminal complaints in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Ahmed was arrested on Jan. 7, 2016, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. As one of the conditions of his pre-trial release, Ahmed is precluded from practicing dentistry in any capacity.  Azimirad was arrested on June 16, 2016. Both Ahmed and Azimirad pled not guilty at their earlier court appearances.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

            In announcing the indictments, U.S. Attorney Phillips and Interim Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Sexual Assault Unit of the MPD.  They also expressed appreciation to the United States Marshals Service for its assistance in the investigation.  Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharon Marcus-Kurn and Stuart Allen, who are prosecuting these charges.