Ep 27. Clean Teeth, Dirty Money/Comic Book Murder

In this episode of American Greed, season 10 episode 27, we delve into the cases of two very different but equally heinous crimes committed in the pursuit of money.

First, we are introduced to a dentist named Dr. David Acer, who was renowned for his work in the dental industry. However, behind his charming demeanor and successful business lay a dark secret - Acer was running a massive insurance scam that involved billing patients for services that were never performed. To make matters worse, Acer would often go to extreme lengths to convince his patients that they needed costly and unnecessary procedures, including drilling holes in perfectly healthy teeth and installing crowns that didn't fit properly.

The scheme eventually came to light, and Acer was convicted of several counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, and healthcare fraud. The dentist was sentenced to over 24 years in prison and ordered to pay over $40 million in restitution to his victims.

Next, we turn our attention to the case of rare comic book collector Melvin Roberts. Roberts had amassed a stunning collection of vintage comic books over the course of several decades, with some of his prized possessions including a copy of "Action Comics #1" - the first appearance of Superman - and "Detective Comics #27" - the debut of Batman.

However, Roberts' passion for his collection soon turned obsessive, and he became increasingly paranoid about the safety of his comics. He began installing elaborate security measures in his home, including motion sensors, cameras, and even a high-tech safe that was capable of withstanding a nuclear blast.

Eventually, Roberts' paranoia proved justified when his live-in caregiver, Eusebio "Junior" Medina, murdered him in a confrontation over money. Medina had discovered that Roberts had written him out of his will, and in a fit of rage, he bludgeoned the collector to death with a dumbbell.

Medina was eventually caught and convicted of murder, and Roberts' prized comic book collection was dispersed to various collectors around the world at a highly publicized auction.

Both cases showcase the extreme lengths that some individuals will go to in order to obtain wealth and the tragic consequences that can result from greed and obsession.