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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
uncertain
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.
uncertain
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.
uncertain
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.
uncertain
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.
uncertain
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
The Aporia
