Ep 5. Clean Teeth, Dirty Money / Comic Book Murder

In American Greed season 11 episode 5, viewers are treated to a double dose of greed and deception. The first story, Clean Teeth, Dirty Money, delves into the world of fraudulent dental insurance schemes. The second story, Comic Book Murder, covers a high-profile murder case involving two comic book collectors.

Clean Teeth, Dirty Money begins by introducing viewers to a man named Larry Tillery. Tillery was a savvy businessman who ran a number of successful dental clinics across Texas. He was well-respected in the dental community and known for his friendly demeanor. However, as the episode unfolds, it becomes clear that Tillery's outward charm was merely a façade.

Tillery's scheme began with dental insurance. He realized that many of his patients had insurance plans that covered expensive procedures like root canals and crowns. So, he began to overbill insurance companies for these procedures, often charging upwards of $5,000 for work that should have cost less than $1,000.

To cover up his fraudulent billing, Tillery hired a team of telemarketers to call patients and convince them to sign up for dental plans that weren't actually insurance. These plans promised free dental check-ups and cleanings, but cost patients hundreds of dollars a year. In reality, patients who signed up for these plans were unlikely to get any benefits at all.

Despite the illegality of his scheme, Tillery managed to run his fraudulent operation for years before being caught. In the end, he was sentenced to prison for 15 years and ordered to pay back $1.1 million in restitution.

The second story, Comic Book Murder, is a stark contrast to the first. The episode begins by introducing viewers to a man named Michael George. George was an avid comic book collector who had amassed an impressive collection of rare and valuable comics over the years.

One day, George's wife, Barbara, was found dead in the couple's comic book store in Clinton Township, Michigan. The police initially believed that she had been murdered during a robbery, but as they began to investigate the case, they discovered that things weren't quite as they seemed.

The investigation into Barbara's murder revealed that Michael had a number of motives for killing his wife. For one, he was heavily in debt and stood to benefit financially from her death. He was also having an affair with a woman named Nancy whom he had met through his comic book store.

As the investigation deepened, the police found evidence that Michael had been contemplating his wife's murder for months. He had even attempted to solicit help from one of his fellow comic book collectors.

In 2008, Michael George went to trial for his wife's murder. The trial was a media sensation and featured testimony from a number of comic book experts who talked about the value of the comics that Michael had stored in his shop.

In the end, Michael was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His case made headlines across the country and left many comic book enthusiasts saddened and shocked.

Overall, American Greed season 11 episode 5 offers viewers a glimpse into two very different worlds of greed and deception. From dental insurance fraud to high-profile murder cases, the episode shows just how far some people are willing to go to get what they want.