What happens when a man who built a $200 million business on lies tries to warn you about someone else’s fraud?

In this Tax Crime Junkies Fine Line Files special edition, Dominique sits down with Barry Minkow—the teenage mastermind behind ZZZZ Best, the ex-con-turned-pastor-turned-SEC informant—for a one-of-a-kind interview.

But this isn’t the redemption arc you might expect.

Instead, Dom gets a front-row seat to monologue filled with red flags, Reg D horror stories, and just enough self-awareness to leave you wondering: Is he helping protect people—or just starring in his next act?

In this episode, you’ll hear:

🔹 Why Reg D investment deals are a playground for fraud 🔹 How repeat offenders can sound convincing—even while making confessions 🔹 What Barry says about his own history, and the victims he now advocates for 🔹 The subtle, dangerous charisma of a career con man

And the chilling takeaway from Barry himself:

“Perpetrators of financial fraud can’t guard the front door. And only a crook like me would know that.”

🎧 This episode is a warning, a case study, and a reminder: even a man who lies for a living can sometimes tell the truth. But that doesn’t mean you should trust him.

Call to Action: Have you seen a shady Reg D deal pitched to one of your clients? Know a repeat fraudster who keeps popping up in the industry? We want to hear your story. Leave us a voicemail on our hotline or DM us @TaxCrimeJunkies.

Subscribe, share, and remember: Stay curious. Stay vigilant. And stay on the right side of The Fine Line.

He was a teenage millionaire. A carpet-cleaning king. A Wall Street darling. Then, a convict. Then, a pastor. Then… a convict again.

In this jaw-dropping episode of Tax Crime Junkies, Dom and Tom unravel the unbelievable story of Barry Minkow, a man whose life has more plot twists than a Hollywood thriller (ironically, there is a Hollywood movie about him—he starred in it as himself).

We begin in Reseda, California, where 16-year-old Barry launched ZZZZ Best, a carpet cleaning company that he turned into a $200 million publicly traded corporation... built entirely on lies. But Minkow didn’t stop there. After being convicted of 57 felonies and spending years in prison, he reinvented himself as a pastor and fraud investigator—only to fall back into scandal, stealing millions from his own congregation and defrauding investors again.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🔹 How Barry faked restoration jobs, forged documents, and got mob ties to help his company go public 🔹 His time in prison and seemingly miraculous comeback as a man of faith and fraud-busting crusader 🔹 The real story behind the self-funded biopic "Minkow" — and the new crimes he committed while filming it 🔹 How he ran scams from the pulpit, stealing from widows and churches, and manipulated the justice system 🔹 Why even after serving two prison terms, Barry is still out there today... on TikTok, Instagram, and filing whistleblower claims with the SEC

This episode isn't just a cautionary tale about fraud—it’s a look into the psychology of a man addicted to the con. Barry’s story raises deeper questions: Can a person like him ever be reformed? Or does the con always find its way back in?

Key Takeaways:

✅ Some Ponzi schemes are built on greed—others on charisma, charm, and a craving to be adored ✅ Redemption stories can be real… but sometimes they’re just sequels to a long-running scam ✅ If the pastor’s asking for a PayPal account linked to your Discover card, maybe say no

📲 Subscribe, rate, and share if you love true crime, financial fraud, and untangling the lies behind the biggest scams in tax history.

📸 Follow us on Instagram and X: @TaxCrimeJunkies 🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode Summary:

After the rise and fall of San Diego real estate mogul Gina Champion-Cain—and her infamous $400 million Ponzi scheme—Dom is back with a solo deep dive into how these schemes actually work and, more importantly, how you can protect yourself from becoming the next victim. From fake escrow officers (looking at you, Wendy Reynolds) to catfishing crypto investors with “pig butchering” scams, this episode is your survival guide to spotting fraud before it bankrupts your wallet and your faith in humanity.

What You’ll Learn: 🔍 The psychological tricks scammers use to win your trust 💰 The anatomy of a Ponzi scheme—and how to recognize one from a mile away 🚩 Red flags that mean “get out now” (including promises of guaranteed returns and urgency tactics) 📉 Why real investing should be boring—and why exciting means “investigate further” 👀 How to vet people, projects, and platforms before investing a single dollar

Real Talk Quotes from Dom: 💬 “If it smells like Wendy Reynolds, it’s probably a scam.” 💬 “Real investing is boring. But boring doesn’t end with the FBI seizing your beach house.” 💬 “Don’t get caught sending your life savings to a guy named ‘CryptoBrad_420’ with an Instagram full of borrowed Lamborghinis.”

Resources Mentioned:

• FINRA BrokerCheck

• SEC Investment Scam Alerts

• Secret Service Crypto Fraud Reporting

• AARP Fraud Resource Center

Why You Should Listen: ✔️ You’re curious about how Ponzi schemes work and why they’re still so effective ✔️ You want to protect yourself (or a friend) from online romance-investment fraud ✔️ You love a good story and a healthy dose of fraud-sniffing sarcasm

🎧 Listen Now on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your scams—I mean, shows.

📨 Have a story tip or fraud tale of your own? Drop us a line—anonymous confessions welcome.

Until next time: Stay curious. Stay vigilant. And stay on the right side of the fine line.