Brandon Dillard, the Atlanta man who marketed himself as the city’s “top veneer specialist,” is asking a Fulton County judge to toss a 113-count indictment, arguing he never knew his high-profile cosmetic work was running afoul of state law. In a motion filed this week, his attorney cast the venture as a cosmetic-education business rather than a criminal scheme.
In the filing, Dillard's lawyer wrote that "Defendants lacked notice that their conduct was in alleged violation of the law" and urged the court to quash the charges. According to WSB-TV, a Fulton County grand jury returned the indictment on Nov. 21, listing 113 total counts that include 54 counts of theft by deception, 24 counts of practicing dentistry without a license, and other felony allegations. Prosecutors allege that from 2021 through 2024, Dillard brought in millions of dollars by selling veneer procedures and training courses.
Investigators raided the northeast Atlanta offices of A List Smiles in October 2024, and Dillard later waived arraignment and entered a not guilty plea, according to industry reporting. Court and trade accounts describe a heavily promoted Instagram presence where Dillard allegedly charged both patients and aspiring “techs” thousands of dollars for veneer procedures and certification classes. DrBicuspid reported that some trainees paid as much as $6,000 to take his courses.
Charges and the Law
Prosecutors say the indictment goes far beyond unlicensed practice and sweeps in charges ranging from theft to battery and a RICO count, reflecting the district attorney’s view that this was a coordinated, multimillion-dollar operation rather than a side hustle that got out of hand. As outlined by WSB-TV, the total comes to 113 separate counts.
Georgia law spells out what counts as the practice of dentistry and limits those procedures to licensed dentists. The statute, available via Justia, is at the heart of Dillard’s argument that he and others never received fair notice that their veneer and training work crossed the legal line.
Industry Warnings and Patient Risks
The American Dental Association has repeatedly warned that unsupervised cosmetic dental work by unlicensed providers can lead to serious, sometimes irreversible damage, concerns that resurfaced after Dillard’s case became public. Dental industry coverage also reports that the Georgia Board of Dentistry issued a cease-and-desist order to A List Smiles earlier in 2024, yet prosecutors contend veneer procedures continued anyway.
ADA News and related reporting emphasize that veneer placement is treated as a medical procedure that requires a licensed professional, not simply a cosmetic service or quick certification add-on.
What’s Next
Dillard’s motion to quash sets up a key pretrial fight over whether Georgia’s statute and prior regulatory warnings gave him adequate notice that his conduct could be criminal. A judge will decide whether the sweeping case moves forward as charged, is narrowed, or gets thrown out.
Dillard remains presumed innocent, and his attorney maintains that the defendants believed their work was lawful. Patients or trainees who have questions about a provider’s status can confirm credentials through the Georgia Board of Dentistry and can report concerns directly to state regulators.
