Barry Minkow

Barry Minkow launched the carpet cleaning firm ZZZZ Best in 1982 at the age of 16. The business grew and went public (in 1986) where its value was more than $100mn. 

The company shrunk after the launch of the investment fraud when he was sentenced to 25 years, and ordered to pay $26mn in restitution.  

He served for 7 years, and then became a pastor at the Community Bible Church in San Diego where he gave speeches on fraud to students and the business community. 

He became a fraud examiner and established a firm to uncover legal fraud in publicly traded organizations. He was the informant of the FBI, at the same time as appeared to be doing the church’s work. 

Later on, it was found that he was stealing money and was sentenced to 5 years. He has a list of financial frauds in his name.