The FBI has placed technology executive Bernhard Eugen Fritsch on its Most Wanted Fraudsters list after he fled the United States while awaiting sentencing for an investment fraud conviction.
Fritsch, 65, founded and served as CEO of Santa Monica-based StarClub Inc. He was convicted by a Los Angeles jury in April 2025 for defrauding investors in a scheme prosecutors said resulted in at least $26.8 million in losses.
The FBI said Fritsch left the US for Mexico in June 2025, shortly before a hearing that could have revoked his bond. He later travelled to Germany after being released by Mexican authorities.
A federal court subsequently sentenced him in absentia to 15 years in prison and ordered him to pay $26,806,901 in restitution. He was also fined $35,000.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information that leads to Fritsch’s arrest and conviction.
According to the agency, Fritsch used StarClub’s StarSite application to attract potential investors by claiming that the technology would allow celebrities and social media influencers to generate income through advertising and brand partnerships.
While soliciting investments, Fritsch allegedly made false statements about StarClub’s financial position and prospects. Among other claims, he told investors that the company was close to securing deals or investments from major media organisations, including Disney.
He also claimed that StarClub had generated $15 million in revenue in 2015 and that major media companies, as well as an international investment bank, had invested in the business.
The FBI said a significant portion of the money raised from investors was instead used to finance Fritsch’s personal lifestyle and expenses.
The agency said investor funds were spent on luxury purchases and improvements to his properties, including a McLaren, a Rolls-Royce, upgrades to his yacht and renovations at his Malibu mansion.
Authorities later seized the yacht and the two luxury vehicles.
One investor reportedly invested more than $20 million in StarClub over a two-year period after relying on Fritsch’s representations. The investor also connected Fritsch with other individuals who subsequently invested millions of dollars, according to the FBI.
After his conviction, Fritsch travelled to Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, in June 2025 while awaiting sentencing and before his bond revocation hearing. A federal arrest warrant was later issued after he failed to appear before the court.
Mexican authorities arrested him in September 2025 and reportedly discovered that he was carrying false identification. He was subsequently released and instructed to appear before a Mexican immigration court every two weeks.
The FBI said Fritsch instead left Mexico for Munich, Germany, on October 6, 2025.
He was sentenced in absentia on October 20, 2025, to 15 years in federal prison.
In June 2026, his girlfriend, 63-year-old Lucinda Jane Weist Manera, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact. The FBI said she assisted Fritsch in evading authorities, remaining in Mexico and eventually travelling to Germany.
The FBI launched its Most Wanted Fraudsters list in June 2026 as part of an effort to enlist the public’s help in locating fugitives wanted in fraud-related cases.
The agency said rewards of up to $150,000 are available for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of individuals featured on the list.
According to the FBI, 15 fugitives have been placed on the list since its launch. Four have been apprehended, while 12 fugitives are currently featured.
