Zachary Horwitz

What the public record shows

Zachary Joseph Horwitz — an actor known professionally as “Zach Avery” — ran 1inMM Capital, which raised at least $650 million from more than 250 investors on the promise of licensing foreign film-distribution rights to HBO and Netflix. He was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in federal prison, with $230,361,884 in restitution ordered. This is a criminal conviction — not an allegation.

The scheme

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California:

• Horwitz told investors 1inMM Capital would use their money to acquire licensing rights to films, which would then be distributed abroad by HBO and Netflix under agreements he claimed already existed.
• In reality, 1inMM never acquired any film rights and never had any distribution agreements with either company. The licensing agreements and distribution documents investors were shown were entirely fabricated.
• Instead, Horwitz ran the operation as a Ponzi scheme — using new investor money to repay earlier investors — while funding a $6 million Beverlywood mansion, luxury cars, and private jet travel.

Why this case matters

Horwitz’s fame as a working actor gave him a plausible cover story: of course an actor would have insider connections to major streaming platforms. That perceived insider credibility, combined with forged corporate documents that looked convincing, is what let a $650 million fraud run for years.

Why we rate this 1 / 10 — Avoid

A 20-year sentence and a $230 million restitution order for one of the largest entertainment-finance frauds ever prosecuted, built entirely on fabricated distribution deals.

Red flags this case teaches

• A claimed relationship with a famous company (HBO, Netflix, a major studio) should be verified directly with that company — never taken on the word of the person raising money.
• Industry insider status (an actor, producer, or “connected” figure) is not proof of deal access — verify the actual paperwork independently.
• Entertainment-finance deals are notoriously opaque to outside investors; demand independently verifiable licensing and distribution contracts.

Bottom line

Convicted and sentenced to 20 years. Someone claiming insider access to a famous company’s business is a claim to verify with that company directly — not a credential to take on faith.

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