Prosecutors File New Charges Against Minkow

Federal prosecutors have filed a list of additional accusations against former carpet-cleaning whiz kid Barry Minkow, who already faces trial this month on nearly 50 charges, including fraud and money laundering.

Minkow, charged in connection with the failure of his Reseda-based ZZZZ Best carpet-cleaning company, which prosecutors allege was a giant pyramid-scheme fraud, also committed 11 additional acts for which he has not been charged, according to documents filed by prosecutors.

The additional acts Minkow allegedly committed include use and involvement with drugs, theft and forgery of checks, payment of kickbacks, beating of subcontractors and false advertising.

Prosecutors have gathered “powerful evidence that shows defendant’s theft of funds, his forgery of documents and his false representations about his business have been part and parcel of defendant’s common plan, scheme and modus operandi , well before any purported organized-crime connections,” the documents said.

The organized-crime reference was apparently a response to earlier comments by Minkow’s attorney that the ZZZZ Best founder was coerced into some criminal activities by mobsters who moved in on his business.

A hearing on whether prosecutors can introduce the evidence to the jury will be held Aug. 22, the day before the scheduled start of Minkow’s trial in U.S. District Court.

Minkow’s attorney, David Kenner, denied that his client was involved in drug dealing.

Kenner said the incidents did not occur the way the government said they did.