Con-man-turned-pastor Barry Minkow gets 5 years in prison for defrauding San Diego church
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A con-man-turned-pastor has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for embezzling $3 million from his San Diego church congregation.
Barry Minkow was ordered Monday to do the time after he completes a Florida sentence of up to 21 months for an unrelated fraud.
Minkow, who's 47, became famous as a teenager for founding the ZZZZ Best carpet cleaning company. It made him a millionaire but was embroiled in a $100 million fraud scheme. Minkow went to prison, was released in 1995 and two years later became pastor of the San Diego Community Bible Church.
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Prosecutors say he opened unauthorized church accounts, forged checks and stole member donations. In a letter to the judge, Minkow said he regrets his actions.
In court, parishioners said they felt he'd betrayed them.