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· collected 2026-09-05 · by TOI World Desk
Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, a 65-year-old former tech entrepreneur with Hollywood connections, is wanted by the FBI for allegedly committing $35 million worth of wire fraud. The FBI believes Fritsch is living in or around Munich, Germany, and has offered up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Between January 2014 and August 2017, Fritsch raised approximately $35 million from investors through his company StarClub Inc, which promised to help celebrities monetize their brand endorsements. After being convicted of wire fraud in April 2025, Fritsch fled the US and was subsequently sentenced to 15 years in prison by a US federal judge in absentia.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
He was once a tech entrepreneur with Hollywood connections, a Malibu mansion and a startup that promised to help celebrities and influencers make money from their online fame.
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celebrities → promise → fame
Now, German-born entrepreneur Bernhard Eugen Fritsch is a fugitive wanted by the FBI, which has offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
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which → bear → arrest
The 65-year-old former CEO was recently added to the FBI’s newly created Most Wanted Fraudsters list after fleeing the US following his conviction for wire fraud.
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CEO → add → fraud
The FBI believes Fritsch is now living in or around Munich, Germany.
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Fritsch → believe → Munich
Social media scam
Fritsch's alleged fraud centred on StarClub Inc, a technology company he founded in California.
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he → allege → California
The company developed software and an app called StarSite that purportedly allowed celebrities and social media influencers to monetise their brand endorsements.
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celebrities → develop → endorsements
Between January 2014 and August 2017, Fritsch raised approximately $35 million from investors, according to the FBI.
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Fritsch → raise → FBI
Prosecutors alleged that he misrepresented StarClub's business prospects, including claiming that the company had or was pursuing deals with major global media and entertainment companies.
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company → allege → companies
Fritsch's pitch was helped by his proximity to the entertainment industry.
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pitch → help → industry
Over the years, he was photographed with celebrities including Michael Jackson, Boris Becker and Wesley Snipes.
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he → photograph → Jackson
Actor Tyrese Gibson also hosted a StarClub event in 2014, while singer Enrique Iglesias was linked to the venture.
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Iglesias → host → venture
But federal prosecutors alleged that the money raised from investors was not used as represented.
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money → allege → investors
At least $7.3 million was allegedly diverted for Fritsch's personal expenses, including mortgage payments, residential expenses and luxury vehicles.
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million → divert → payments
Reports said the money helped finance expensive cars, a yacht and his Malibu property.
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money → say → cars
In April 2025, after a nine-day trial, a California jury found Fritsch guilty of wire fraud.
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Fritsch → find → fraud
He was facing a potential lengthy prison sentence.
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He → face → sentence
Instead of appearing for a post-conviction bond revocation hearing, Fritsch fled.
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Fritsch → appear → hearing
According to the FBI, Fritsch cut off his court-ordered ankle monitor in June 2025 and escaped to Los Mochis in Sinaloa, Mexico.
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Fritsch → accord → Sinaloa
A federal arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear at the hearing.
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he → issue → hearing
Mexican authorities detained him in September 2025 and found him carrying false identification, according to the FBI.
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him → detain → FBI
He was subsequently released from immigration custody and ordered to report to Mexican authorities every two weeks.
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He → release → authorities
But Fritsch allegedly fled again.
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Fritsch → flee → ?
On October 6, 2025, he travelled to Munich, Germany.
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he → travel → Munich
Two weeks later, a US federal judge sentenced him in absentia to 15 years in prison, fined him $35,000 and ordered him to pay $26.8 million in restitution.
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judge → sentence → restitution
Germany's constitutional protections for its citizens create another obstacle for US authorities.
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protections → create → authorities
Fritsch is a German national, and the FBI believes he remains in Bavaria.
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he → believe → Bavaria
His case has now become one of the first high-profile pursuits under the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters initiative, created to target major white-collar fugitives.
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case → become → fugitives
The FBI says anyone with information about Fritsch's whereabouts should contact the bureau.
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anyone → say → bureau
A reward of up to $150,000 is being offered.
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reward → offer → 150,000
Despite being a wanted fugitive, Fritsch has continued to maintain a visible digital footprint.
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Fritsch → want → footprint
Reports say he has posted photographs from Germany on Instagram, including images from a hike near Lake Starnberg.
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he → say → Starnberg
