What happens when an IRS insider trades audits for anti-government conspiracies? In this week’s episode, we dive headfirst into the tangled world of the Tax Defier Movement a universe of pseudolegal theories, fringe seminars, cruise-ship conferences, and people who genuinely believe the income tax is optional.

Our case study? Sherry Peel Jackson, a former IRS agent, CPA, and Certified Fraud Examiner who went from enforcing the tax law… to denying it applies at all. After discovering a full-page ad claiming that “income taxes is a fraud,” Jackson fell down a rabbit hole of books, seminars, and misinformation that would eventually lead to a four-year federal prison sentence.

Join Dominique and Tom as they trace Jackson’s journey from respected IRS employee to one of the most notable faces of the modern anti-tax movement. Along the way, you’ll hear:

How an ad in USA Today helped fuel a nationwide surge in tax-defier ideology The rise (and spectacular fall) of the Global Prosperity and PQI schemes Why cruise ships are apparently the unofficial headquarters of tax fraud The most common (and most debunked) myths tax defiers swear by Section 861, the 16th Amendment, 5th Amendment claims, and more How the IRS and DOJ have responded to the growing wave of “tax truthers” Why rhetorical attacks on the legitimacy of the tax system not lost revenue pose the real threat

This episode untangles the conspiratorial logic behind the Tax Defier Movement and shows why these arguments fail in court every. single. time. Spoiler: judges don’t accept “I am a sovereign citizen of my own bedroom” as a legal defense.

By the end, you'll understand how an intelligent, credentialed professional can get swept into a movement built on flimsy interpretations and wishful thinking and why the IRS will never, ever buy the claim that taxes are voluntary.

If you’ve ever wondered how misinformation spreads, who profits from it, and why so many smart people fall for bad tax advice… this episode is your case study.

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.