A Murfreesboro dentist faces federal charges that he scammed several insurance companies, and even TennCare, a program funded by tax dollars.
TBI Agent Mike Cox minces no words when it comes to the problem of insurance fraud in Tennessee.
His division, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, was formed to fight just that problem.
Federal prosecutors say over the past 5 years, some of that fraud came from Dental Excellence -- with three offices in Murfreesboro and one in Lebanon.
Prosecutors say Richard Schott and Kendra Glenn submitted bogus claims to insurance companies including TennCare, so they could collect the money for procedures they never did.
Prosecutors say the two would also threaten to fire employees who raised concerns about what they were doing.
And the TBI, who investigated the case, say fraud like this can raise both your insurance premiums and your taxes.
"It may fall on the backs of taxpayers in some form or fashion or as a private citizen when you're getting your own insurance," Cox said.
And the TBI says when it or the feds bring down fraud charges, it's cases have to be exceptionally strong: as defendants can afford to pay for exceptionally skilled attorneys.
