When money starts to move in the shadows, the truth becomes harder to see. In this episode, we follow the money trail of the Opticians Association of America — from six-figure salaries and ballooning meeting costs, to mysterious checks written to “Cash,” lavish parties, and even shocking allegations of pornography funded by member dues.

Between 2010 and 2022, more than $5.7 million flowed through the OAA. Nearly a million dollars is now alleged to have been embezzled. Where did it all go? Who looked the other way? And at what point did negligence turn into complicity?

We’ll lay out the evidence, hear the numbers in black and white, and start to uncover the uncomfortable truth: was this a century-old institution betrayed by one man, or was the entire board asleep at the wheel?

(Jim Morris reached out and clarified, he was not in attendance, Melanie's defense claims Jim maybe aware of her alleged party as being a legitimate OAA expense.)

Turns out some of the figures for restaurant bills and pornography were mixed up in the podcast, the figures indicate that pornography was a much higher spend. Details will be uploaded to the website https://optscureal.com/corruption-in-optics-podcast/

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the case and ask the bigger questions: What does it really mean for the optical industry? How deep does this story go? And will the courtroom deliver the clear answers we’re hoping for… or just raise even more troubling questions? Together, we’ll explore the evidence, challenge the narratives, and confront the uncomfortable truths facing both listeners and industry insiders. The trial hasn’t started yet, but the stakes couldn’t be higher — and the questions we ask now may shape how this story is remembered.

United States of America District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Memphis Division, Case Number 2:24-CV-3012

OPTICIANS ASSOCIATION of AMERICA, INCORPORATED. vs CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL ALLEN, MELANIE JOYCE ALLEN, and RUSSELL B. FRITZ, JR.

In the Intro to Season 1 join us as we outline the charges and lay the groundwork for the upcoming trial or trials in ophthalmic optics. We will dive deep and leave no stone uncovered in our quest to gain insight into a scandal that will surely rock the ophthalmic world.