When the media company Ozy unraveled last fall, its CEO, Carlos Watson—the would-be wizard of Ozy—stood accused of inflating performance, inventing partners, and looking the other way when his co-founder impersonated a YouTube exec to potential investors. It wasn’t, however, the first time a funding-hungry, win-at-any-cost entrepreneur would take preposterously desperate measures: Cook the books? Check. Conspire to traffic cocaine? Hey, it’s financing! Dress like Steve Jobs? Sadly, yes. Take a look at some who crossed the line from unbridled hype to “Let me explain, Your Honor.”
